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?

Also realised that I can easily spend my childcare vouchers on fun high quality school holiday clubs instead of the dreary same-old cheapos yet again. Let them have fun in their 14 weeks of holiday a year when I and DH cannot always join them.

Well dropped off dd1 at new CMs this morning. DH is happy with her, and he can drop her normally, then just stroll to tube-it's on his way!

Fingers crossed!

You're so right cat64, before you start doing this lark, you think, how hard can it be? You see other people managing fine, and wonder why they say "you'll be lucky", and then you find THEY have just been lucky, and found a good AP or nanny, or have relatives to help, or a reliable childminder in the neighborhood, or a school with a breakfast or afterschool club club-and that that is the exception, not the rule.

And she will take the blimmin childcare vouchers-hurrah!