Had a call from some one wanting 'odd' hours...

[Earthymama]

a student who wants 3 hours on 2 days and 7 hours on 3 days. How would you charge for this? Seven hours every day with option to use less hours?(IYSWIM) Just charge for hours minded?

I'm prepared to do 10 hour days so if I take this child on I'll miss out on quite a lot of hours. I would never find a child to fit in with the remaining hours. In the past I've had part-timers but usually 2 or 3 full days.
What would I do in holidays, charge as normal or reduced fees?

if you don't take on this child you could end up with no one though?
i would do it and say she pays for a min 27 hours per week no matter what days she uses and if she uses more hours obv she pays for them on top. get money in advance of course.

Don't do the just charge for the hours minded, if she is a student and can't afford to pay it she'll be getting the childcare grant- I do. So not only will her hours be covered regardless of whether she uses them (she ahs the option to collect early obv), but believe me those forms are FIDDLY and if she ends up getting money for 7 then paying for 3, they'll deduct it next year and she won't be abe to pay (quite common)

My CM takes half terms off, bt she might be surprised to find that (assuming she is at Uni all of thes) they often organise stuff over reading weeks so you need childcare anyhow- I'm forever caught out by that

If I was happy to do those "odd" hours, then that is all I would charge for. If you want to ensure that you earn your maximum (or be close), then you probably shouldn't take on this student unless you can agree a fixed price per week.

However, I had a student mum and the college would only cover the actual hours needed for minding (and certainly wouldn't pay anything to cover holidays), and there is no way she could have afforded to make up any extra.

I also do term-time only contracts if that's all that is required, but usually fill the holiday spaces with other children anyway.

PC, Do you know if the grant applies to Further Ed students too?

TP, I look after children throughout the holidays so if this parent wants term time only that's nearly a third of the year with no money. I've never been approached by some-one who wanted just holiday cover, maybe I could view that as a potential market!!

LMG, I need to talk to her properly ie when neither of us in pursuit of little ones, to sort out her exact requirements.

Thank you all for your responses

I childminded a child while the mum was at college and the college paid me directly. We had to agree the hours I would be used and the college had to approve the contract. The mum allowed extra travelling time so I was being paid for around 1 hour more a day that I actually minded her for. The college paid a half fee retainer for all the holidays. I found the mum wanted me to still mind in the holidays and I had to speak up as I was only getting paid half.

Although you are prepared to mind for 50 hours a week, how likely is it that you will find someone to fill this? If you are busy and its easy picking up work then you can afford to be more choosy. You don't want to say no to this child and then remain empty.

HTH. FL.

Earthymama, I always find requests to do odd hours by students very difficult because I just cannot afford the loss of income when I am available for a 10hr+ day. I have recently had an enquiry & face a similar situation - I would need to charge full fee during college hols so do not take on term-time only LO's.

For the 3 hour bookings, I would charge for a half day (5 hours) & for 7 hour booking, charge for full day (10 hrs). Most childminders I know of, charge half fee during school/college hols. As yet, I have never had an enquiry for school holiday only cover!