CM Club:Term-time only contracts

[Katymac]

OK I am havig real problems with this one.

I used to charge full in term-time and half in the holidays to hold the place.

This caused problems because the parents thought as they paid half in the holidays they could use the space.

So I changed it and charged a higher rate term-time to secure the space.

People don't like the perseption of paying a higher rate

How do I solve this?

I can't afford to charge nothing for the holidays I can't afford to hold a space in the holidays in case it is used on the basis of half fee

I am a money grasping greedy childminder

What do other CMS in your area do?
I speak as a customer, not a CM myself.

I have only had term time contrcts with CMS because they always had their own plans, holidays, etc., outside of term time. So they often weren't available, and it suited both of us to have the childcare more ad hoc then. They didn't charge any different for term-hours or holiday hours.

(Out of noisiness, what do you charge?)

I work term-time. I charge half rate in the holidays. If the parents choose to use me in the holidays, I then charge the full rate as I am working, not holding the place open. If they ask to use me and I am busy, then I don't charge them anything because I'm not available. Hope that is helpful.

Customer as well and I don't get charged at all outside term-time. If I was paying 1/2 I'd expect to be able to use the place. I think. Doesn't demand for places increase a little during school holidays?

What do others do around you Katiemac?
I charge 25% in holidays to keep the place open, I have no intention of working though, and make it clear that I will do a few emergency days if need be and I am around but will not guarantee to be available IFSWIM.

Around here the norm is 50% but then you are supposed to be available if they want you to work.

If you fill the spaces with holiday only children around here I don't think the CM's then charge for the place but keep a deposit over the hols to make sure the kids come back.
BTW I don't charge for After schools in the hols either as this is the norm here

Oh yes and I would charge full rate for any days worked in the holidays too.

i have term time only children that i clearly state i cannot mind in the school hols and i charge 1/4 fees to hold the place

i then have school hols children who only attend in the hols

school hols go by my childrens school hols (my children are r/c)and so at easter for example most schools break up one week b4 easter our school breaks up mornday thursday and i have to say tough cant look after them the first week as my children are still at school

i also go by the term dates of my children's schools - I put the name of the school on my contracts to avoid confusion.

Don't parents object to paying to "hold" a place that isn't available?

I don't work the school hols and I don't charge parents.

I hold the space for them anyway.

Works for me but I'm only part/time anyway.

If I got an offer of a F/T child in the first week of the school holidays (& the only space avail was a termtime only child - who wasn't paying to hold the space) should I goive that space to the F/T child (assuming a 52 week year)?

That is why I need some sort of payment.....I just don't know how to word it

Also I can have 12 children of which only 9 maybe under 5 so in the holidays a younger child space could be taken by a school age child (iyswim)

I hate TT only contracts - someone always seems to lose out

go what for makes the most sense business wise.

The best business decision is to not have termtime only children - but that seems a bit mean (& unfair) or to simply charge full fee all year round - which again seems mean