Childminder day rates for pre-schooler

[buzzy1]

Just curious, DS has got a place at preschool from 9 til 3 and CM will keep her full day rate charges the same, even though she doesn't have him for most of the day. Is this normal or should I expect the lower rate she charges for my school age DS?

If she drops off and picks up that's quite common to charge, under 5's places are limited and hard to fill 9.15-2.45 and if you need the place in the holidays she'd lose a lot of money keeping it open.

Round here that is definitely not the case.
Do you need her to drop of in the morning? If not I would look for somewhere it.

She might be right to make a charge but I don't think a full charge is right.
Is childcare hard to get in ur area, if so shell be able to do it. If not then she will lose business.

In my area this is common practice. It wouldn't be worthwhile for a childminder to block up an early years space just for a couple of hours pay in the morning and afternoon. If you are looking to save money you could ask your childminder about offering the free hours, instead of sending ds to preschool.

I would charge the full rate, because the space is still used. School children are in a different age bracket, so different rules apply.

If it's an Early Years place, then I would charge. Don't you already get the free sessions at preschool with the EYFE?

You're paying for the place, not the physical presence of your child. You're taking up two Early Years places; one at preschool and one with the childminder.

Thanks for all your replies. I already use my free hours up at another nursery/ pre school and top up so I can get a full day. I suppose its my problem that I don't have free hours left. It just means I'm paying out quite a lot for the ay because I want DS to benefit from a preschool setting, he'll be nearly 5 by the time he starts school so needs the stimulation which my CM has admitted she is struggling to give him. She has a few babies and toddlers too so it's worth sending him. I think it is the norm here too to charge full day rate but its just quite steep when you add the pre school costs..

I appreciate that, but it is your choice to use a preschool full time and you're already being subsidised with the free hours.

I just don't understand why you would think your choice should be further subsidised - with 6 free hours a day! - by your childminder.
If your choice is proving too expensive, then maybe look around for an alternative childcare option or reduce the preschool hours so only the free sessions are used?

I'm a cm and would accept one of my full timers going to preschool for 3 hours in the morning and not being paid, but I would object to being expected to hold a place for a whole school day just so I could pick up at 3pm. I would expect them to choose, me or preschool and if it was the preschool, so be it. I would probably feel second best if they only wanted me when nursery wasn't open so would feel the parent would be better of looking elsewhere than me for wrap around care. I'm also not convinced children benefit from multiple settings. As an alternative, Could your dc not go to preschool or nursery every morning then cm for lunch and afternoon? Or just go to nursery each day?