Mum's, us and Maternity...?

[MaNa1]

Hi,

Just a quickie...2 yr old boy 4 days a week at the moment. Mum is now going on mat.leave for 6 mths and wants older boy 2 come 2 days a week (4 continuity) but only pay for those 2 days 4 6 mths..Can't fill gap left and can't aford 2 say goodbye either as I am due 2 take on sibling too after mat. leave! Any suggestions...?

Thanx

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if shes on maternity surely shes getting paid so you should get a retainer .

if he comes 2 days, then you get paid for 2 days. and if she wants him and the baby to come to you after then arrange then?.....wouldnt that be how it works?

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i can see your point. maybe she needs to be told then pay retainer or ill look for other mindees?...

Do you have usual / standard arangements for holding places open (retainer)? You'll be holding open 2 dpw for the boy plus 4 dpw for the baby, so that's quite a lot of gap that you are unlikely to fill as you can't offer it on a permanent basis.

BTW, if mum only getting SMP, as most of us do, that's £108pw (after the frist 6 weeks at 90%), so it may be hard for her to pay for place / retainer etc out of that. Her finances are likely to be tight - if you really want to keep the place open for her boy and baby, you may need to be flexible on your retainer fee.

Sorry nothing helpful to say just 2 of my mindees parent just told me she is pregnant and being really organised has ofered to pay 100% of her childcare costs as a retainer for 6 months when she is off as long as I keep the spaces for them and the baby. Shes on basic SMP when she stops work so wasnt even expecting her to pay that much.
That way shes got her childcare sorted out in advance and a very happy childminder.
Sorry that was no help atall but in the past wiht other parents on maternity leave Ive always insisted on at least a 50% retainer fee to keep the place open.

I wouldn't do less than 50 %

You surely can't afford to??

Is she expecting elder one to do 2 or 4 days after ML ? If to increase him again to 4 surely she has to pay a retainer to keep those extra 2 days open, and to guarantee the baby's space ?

I am probably extremely "unprofessional" in what I do because I haven't ever charged a retainer when parents have been on maternity leave.

Overall, I have looked at the amount of money I've already earned with the first child, looked at the amount of money I will be earning with two children, and have accepted that there will be a reduced payment somewhere in the middle when the first child comes for less hours.

I've done this for several very long-term families and have earned thousands over the years with them (gosh, I'm sounding a bit like a multi-millionaire here!) Basically, in the long-term, I do very well financially. If you can't be without the lower income during the mum's maternity leave, this obviously won't work!!