CM charges, does this seem reasonable charge?

[majorstress]

I'm talking to a CM to take my dd1 to school, this year 2 days a week. She offered (her idea not mine) to come to my house at 7:15 am (it's in the next street), collect dd1 and take her home for breakfast then to school. She says this will take 2 hours, though I make it 1 and 3/4 as school starts by 9:00, and she wants £14 a day for that. The home pick-up would be very helpful as we are in London, so every second later I leave means an extra 5 minutes sat in traffic (dd2 as well as me), and no parking when I get to work.

Next year dd2 will need taking to school as well, annoyingly dd1 will be in Juniors which is next to but not adjoining Infants, so quite a big distance between the front gates, i.e.a faff, and I will be full time, so need 5 days a week.

so getting in early will mean a big difference to our quality of life, as I can leave earlier and see more of dds. But will she expect £28 a day?

I think that is a bit steep, please correct me if I am wrong. What should I say?

Yes you are allowed in when she is minding other children.

Ok will report back next week if anyone interested!

Yes, let us know how you get on

My first cm wouldn't do vouchers but was wonderful. But I would want to visit her house and see her registration certificate, ofsted report and any letters of recommendation in her portfolio.

cece did you find one that would take them, or did you help or persuade them to sign up?

Scottishthistle - these are before tax figures we are talking about! Sometimes its not all its cracked up to be! e.g. Just had a call from parent to say is it ok if she is about 2 hours late tonight! I have mindee til 6.30 as it is! And as its the last day of term, he's been here since 1pm! It's Friday fgs! Needless to say, I said actually no it's not ok!

Well I wouldn't dream of doing that. I have never in over 6 years, been late to collect either child, from nursery or school and wouldn't consider treating a CM any different.

thankfully its only this particular family that tries it on, all my others are wonderful!

No I didn't persuade her. We moved areas so sadly had to stop using her after 5 years. I now use them for current cms (yes I have 2!?0

As no one has yet mentioned it, care for less than 2 hours per day (7.15am to 9am in this case) does not require Ofsted Registration in England.

With regard to fees, it sounds reasonable as it is for a short time period which often adds a premium.

In my area, a local childminder charges:
7am-8am £6.50, 8am-9am £4.50 Drop-off £2
So under a contract to include childcare with school run, I make that (£6.50+£4.50+£2) £13.00 for one child. With 2 children sibling discounts means it is £13 for first child, £11 for second child (£0.50 discount per childcare hour, £1 discount school drop-off).

Have to say costs charged are all about supply and demand and what nannynick says sounds true for around here - Weybridge Surrey - some cms charge £6 ph standard rate now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks that is really helpful. It costs a lot to live in London for all of us benighted souls, even CMs, and I'm under no illusions about that!

I have remembered one occasion when I was late for the nanny (only by about 30 minutes actually). That was when the tubes and then a bus was blown up in the next street on 7/7/2005 (very loud), and once I had got brave enough to go outside again, I had to walk to my dh's office to tell him I was still alive (as no phone service) and then walk home which is about 10 miles (as no tube of course). I didn't really know the best way either.

This resulted in her quitting, as HER mum went crazy and insisted she return home.

Well I said I would report back on my possible CM to take dd1 to school 2 days a week, yes she had all the qualifications certs etc. , a happy referrence who I phoned, and the house seemed a bit damp but otherwise ok, impressed DH with her energy and commitment to it all, and had changed her mind about the vouchers now she understands she would be paid just as quickly. fingers crossed that it goes well and she can then take both kids 4 days a week next year.

Decided we don't need her to collect from our house anyway and that as long as she'll take the blimmin' vouchers, we are willing to pay £14 a day, it IS antisocial to start at 7:15-except she has a 2 year old so won't exactly be getting her beauty sleep instead either.

(But WE get treated like OUR boss is doing us a big favour, to let us do an early shift and so theoretically, leave early, in fact I predict DH will just leave at the same time he always does-late. But that's another issue-the long hours, life beyond work is for wimps, working culture.)

Oh, it sounds like a good solution for you Majorstress. Good luck!

Princesscc, perhaps I won't bother then!

I would charge for 2 hours, plus a little bit for breakfast. my hourly rate is a lot lower but it depends on area.

But did it look newly and professionally decorated?

It wasn't completely redecorated yet, certainly not professionally since it's her DH who's supposed to do it, and a two-year old reason she can't get on with it herself-she's obviously got a DIY-shirking DH. Like me. It was neat and tidy despite her ds, more than I would manage, and my kids don't care about that anyway.

I think she was just a bit unused to having someone round who obviously has more money and a slightly bigger, slightly better maintained (by the previous owners) house (she has babysat for us, and only saw it in the dark which helps). I sympathise because I and DH are baulking at inviting back some mummies and kids to OUR humble abode, having seen their palatial piles, for the same reason. It's embarrassing, we are pretty lazy about that decor stuff but not laid back enough to pull off the "cluttered slum" look with panache.

We're supposed to be able to afford a nanny I guess but our salaries don't actually stretch that far.

Guess what? After 4 days, my cm decided that taking dd to school with her ds (2.5) in tow is too difficult-and terminated contract!!!!

According to dd (who was v happy with the cm), once at school the LO ran around, jumped on things, pulled dowon displays and screamed.

Sort of like all the other little sibs being dragged to school with their bruvvas and sistas; she will have fun when she gets to that stage as a MUM, if this is how she copes as a paid, trained registered CM taking a good 6.5 year old who knows what to do, and does it.

So more soul searching for the majorstress household-how COULD I be so selfish, as to want to spend 1 hour a day less commuting to my job?

oh dear - back to square one then?

I just don't know.

There is one other cm that is advertising in the area, at least she isn't new to the job. so will be phoning her. Also will have the local list posted to me every week.

i guess I can ask other mums to do it, as I have so far while dd1 was in Infants-but it's hard to pay them, and to ask them to take her at 7:15-I'd prefer a more formal arrangement. also can use my childcare voucers with a registered cm. I think I'd have to get 2 mums to help next year as one will be in juniors and the other in infants, I don't know any mums to speak to in the same situation who live near enough.

I can imagine someone not realising how hard school drop offs are, but not a registerd cm, who had advertised endlessly for kids that go to our school. She said she only wants little ones now!

Also another problem is my dh, who is supposed to take them to the theoretical cm by 7:15-he doesn't seem to be able to get up in the morning and is always late for everything these days. Yet he can no longer do an 8 or 9 am drop off, more than once a week.

Do you think if I paid even more, I would get someone to take my kids at 7 am?

What a nightmare... i'd do it if lived nearer! (kent is bit too far!) I take it you have been on Ofsted website, contacted CIS, put advert up in local shops, community centre etc? are there no other mums you are friendly with who may be able to help?

Yes, after various requests and calls CIS finally posted me their list, plus something for "speedminding" which is where you get to meet lots of cms-except I have to post them a checque (refundable) by yesterday! I asked about it last week but bank hol got in way-anyhow I already found another CM who is possible and we are going to visit tomorrow. At least this one has been around a while (I recognise her name from my earlier struggles) so must know what the job actually entils, not just a walk to the park while she spoils her own kid rotten. She already takes kids to the school, so hopefully won't bottle out on me.

Here's hoping she is the real deal!!!!

I am so tired of this but I got out my calculator and realised that the 3 hours alone minimum of sitting in traffic a week this will save my exercise programme that I need to keep mobile after spinal surgery. Plus I will have more flexibility in the afternoon for me AND the kids activities having done my work hours already in the morning. Otherwise no more outside school activities for them-nothing. Just slog.