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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

CM's-Help! I've had an enquiry??

33 replies

CwmbranChildminder · 13/11/2006 10:35

Right - this is my 1st enquiry so over joyed but need help!
Mum wants me to pick there ds up from another school to which my ds goes to on these days
tues 3.15 - 5.30
wed 3.15 - 5.40
thurs 3.15 - 5.30
problem my son finishes nursery at 3.15 also but was thinking I could ask my sons nursery to let him out at 3 on these days.?
Then mum is expecting in Feb and wants me to have baby same days but all day from 9am.
Bare in mind though my son will start school in Sept and I wont be able to get him to finish early though my sons school does offer rap around so I could use that and advertise more for this other school as they dont offer rap around. Ive told mum I charge £3.50 p/t.
What would u all do?Do u think its too much hassle? Bare in mind Im desperate for business and money??
All advice and opinions welcome

OP posts:

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HappyMumof2 · 13/11/2006 10:38

Message withdrawn

dmo · 13/11/2006 14:52

i wouldnt do it eirther
your children come first as does your sanity

if she wants you from feb for the baby thats great but you cant be expected to pick up from 2 schools (come sept) at the same time

the calls will come

Kidstrack · 13/11/2006 15:02

sorry i wouldn't do it, its too much to take your own dc out of nursery early. Something will come along soon!

Katymac · 13/11/2006 15:07

Umm - I agree with all of the others - sorry.....it isn't ideal unless your DS will be going to that school sooner or later

It's jsut a nightmare otherwise

smeeinit · 13/11/2006 15:17

i wouldnt do it either im afraid.
hold tight and the calls will come in
i know its sooo frustrating when your not getting any calls but they will come!

mummybunny · 13/11/2006 16:20

I wouldnt do it either. From experience (Lots of!) these less than ideal arrangements nearly turn out to be very stressfull all found. Apart from ds needing to be picked up early, your timing is so tight that one little mishap or traffic jam might really be a problem.
If this mum really wants you then she needs to fit in with you.

You will find the right mindies,just sit tight.
Good luck

StrawberryMoon · 13/11/2006 19:18

firstly, make sure your business revolves around you and your family..after all that why a lot (ME!) of us do this work...
secondly, make sure you set YOUR rules so..you must drop off by x time to enable me to get children to school..
and thirdly, if you do want to take them on, id charge extra for dropping off/picking up from other school and charge a retainer for the child coming in feb.

ThePrisoner · 13/11/2006 22:55

I also wouldn't do this, although I can understand that you need the work. However, you may end up with your ds resenting being dragged out of nursery early (assuming that the nursery are OK with this??), and he may also be unhappy about having to attend an afterschool club himself in September.

I know of a mum who couldn't find afterschool childcare, so would collect her own child from school (it was regarded as a "late lunch") and dropped him at the childminder. Would this be another option?

Original poster

CwmbranChildminder · 13/11/2006 23:04

Thank you all for taking time for replying.
I see all your points and I probably wasnt thinking straight and I was just over joyed with an enquiry. I will get back to mum and say cant do school rung but possible to have baby if she still needed childcare. I was told u cant charge a retainer for a baby not yet born? is this true?

OP posts:

HenniPenni · 13/11/2006 23:08

Yes, it is true that you can't charge a retainer for an unborn child.

Original poster

CwmbranChildminder · 13/11/2006 23:12

oh ok = so really i wouldnt want to committe myself to someone that wont be needing my services until next may as I'd loose loads of money if I had another enquiry between now and then. I think its best I say Im unable to committe and if still looking for cm next yr for May to ring me in the Feb to see what my availability is??

OP posts:

HenniPenni · 13/11/2006 23:15

Yes, thats what I'd do, tell her to give you a ring after the babies born-then you can charge a retainer until baby is due to start.

nannynick · 13/11/2006 23:16

Who says you can't charge a retainer for an unborn child? Surely it is between the parents/parents-to-be and the minder. If the parents want to have the place held for them, then surely nothing wrong with charging a retainer fee. A place is a place... if someone wants to reserve it BEFORE their child is even born, surely that is up to them, not anyone else.

LoveMyGirls · 14/11/2006 06:46

i would still invite her round for a coffee and a chat, you never know if she knows other mums that are looking for childcare that will fit in with what you can offer, if she meets you and likes you she may reccommend you to other people and it gives you experience of having a client meeting without the pressure of hoping she will def come to you iyswim. Also gives you a chance to give out some business cards

Good luck with it all.

Katymac · 14/11/2006 08:20

Nick - the reason you don't charge a retainer for an unborn baby is in case (God forbid) anything goes wrong. You couldn't return a retainer as it's "running costs" so to speak

You could charge a deposit as that is returnable

Original poster

CwmbranChildminder · 14/11/2006 10:05

GOOD NEWS - spoke to mum this morning and she is more than willing to get her ds to get taxi to my hse as she has done it with past cm. Cool!!
So she is coming around this afternoon for a chat and she said she is looking to get him started asap.
If she is happy do we sign contracts today or have a 2weeks settling in period and then sign contracts>??
What kind of deposit would you suggest for baby?? It seems bad that I have to keep place open until Feb before getting retainer but I suppose its better than nothing.

OP posts:

smeeinit · 14/11/2006 10:14

thats gr8 news! good for you!
i would def sign contracts b4 settling in period.
tricky one with the deposit,if it was me i would charge a NON REFUNDABLE deposit of a months fees.
may sound like a lot BUT feb is a long way away and you could be earning a lot of money in that time.
hope it goes well this pm.

Original poster

CwmbranChildminder · 14/11/2006 10:17

good idea about non refundable deposit (will put that one to her this afternoon) fingers crossed x

OP posts:

smeeinit · 14/11/2006 10:21

hope it goes well,ive done a non refundable deposit before and they were happy with it. go for it!

Original poster

CwmbranChildminder · 14/11/2006 12:08

another question sorry!

What if she requires me to have her 8yr ds in holidays etc=do i put that into contract?>Im guessing you dont charge a retainer for that?

OP posts:

StrawberryMoon · 14/11/2006 12:46

sorry dont know about hos, but wanted to say good luck for this afternoon..get contract signed now and include in that that the first two weeks are settling in period.good luck

HappyMumof2 · 14/11/2006 13:07

Message withdrawn

StrawberryMoon · 14/11/2006 13:16

i am prob wrong, but i would have thought that if you havea part timer, who would require/expect full time care during all school hols, you would be perfectly able to ask for a retainer to keep the holiday periods free for this child???

HappyMumof2 · 14/11/2006 13:19

Message withdrawn

Original poster

CwmbranChildminder · 14/11/2006 13:21

not picking him up from school = he will be catching a taxi to my hse as I pick up from different school!
if he is 8 does he count in my numbers?

OP posts:

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