Childminder question- offering free childcare for interviews.

[Tapewormuprising]

I'd like to offer 1 (possibly 2, not sure yet) hour's free childcare for parents attending interviews, specifically for parents going back to work after having children or periods of unemployment. Do you think people would go for it? I was thinking it would be limited to one per family.

I need a bit of help wording a policy for it. I genuinely want to help people out, but i really don't want to get ripped off by people taking advantage either!

Thanks!

I think to attend an interview most people would need a whole morning or afternoon. Jobs now days are rarely nearby. Although of course you might live in a large city.
I went for an interview at a school for a teaching assistant. It was 3-4 hours. A group of us were shown around the school. We were then taking out individually to do a practical First Aid part. We were then interviewed.
We also had coffee with the other staff.

Could you offer half fees for interviews instead?
How would affect your insurance if completely free.
You would also need to spend time giving out and checking health forms before the child arrived.

The forms ect could be filled out when i show them around, or they could be emailed.

Yes, i'm sure the 1 or two hours wouldn't cover the whole of the interview, but it would certainly go some way to helping. Half fees is a great idea too.

As far as i know, i can set however much i want for my fees, including gratis. I'd have to check out the terms of my insurance, but many childminders offer free taster sessions, so i don't really see how this would be different.

Thanks!

Sounds a good idea. I'm sure there are parents who are stuck for childcare in this instance.

But have as much information about the child in advance so you can plan around any specific needs.

How would you know they were going for a job interview and not getting theur hair done, going home to do freelance work?

I often have parents that book a place and then use their interview slots as settling in days

Not sure there's much money in interview times. Maybe half day booking for interviews, shopping, hair, etc? A bit like nannynick said.

Personally no I wouldn't offer this kind of childcare and certainly not free!

Why would I want to fill out a Contract, Consent Forms, Child Info Forms, Diary and Learning Journal etc which I recently costed and with the cost of the Contract, paper, printing and time it takes to do it costs me £23.

Do EYFS Starting points and Observations.

If you didn't have all the above in place your Public Liability Insurance would not be valid.

How are you going to verify that the parents are really attending an interview while using your free care? Will you want to see the letter, email confirming the date and time of the interview?

I think you would be opening yourself up to all sorts of trouble.

I think it's a generous idea, but not sure how it would work in RL.

How would you advertise? Why only open up to free childcare for interviews? If you have vacancies to offer this kind of care, why not just take on new, paying, children?

It's a kind thought, but not at all worth your while and I don't think it's a feasible long term offer you could keep.

I think its a brilliant idea if you are struggling to fill spaces, cos if they get the job they will probably use you for their childcare. It's a bit like a promotional offer.
As long as you have the correct paperwork in place, eg contact forms, medical info, and payment in advance.