Deposits and retainers

[vcf]

Hello everyone again! I'm trying to get all my policies and paper work and advertising in place before my reg cert comes through.

One of the things I'm stuck on is what to do re deposits and retainers. For instance, if parents decide they want you to care for their child and to start in a couple of weeks time, would you charge a deposit, say £50 to put their name on the list? What if they wanted a place in a months time, would you charge a deposit or a retainer?? It's just, I wouldn't want to offer someone a place, turn others away and then they change their mind at the last minute.

Many thanks!

deposits are for when you do not have a space yet but are happy to reserve a place for a child to use from an agreed starting date. The deposit is usually credited to either the first payment period or kept til the end of the childcare arrangement (to cover fees during notice period) and refunded if all payments made.

Retainers are for reserving a place that you have a current vacancy for but the parent doesn't yet want to use. Eg maternity leave, school holidays etc. Usually charged at half fees. the place must be available for parent to use (upon payment of the remaining half fees, of course).

Personally, I always charge a deposit fee equivalent to the fees throughout the notice period and I keep this til the end of the agreement. I've never had anyone reserve a place far enough in advance to charge a retainer as well.