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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

CM Club - hmm dilemma

9 replies

lunavix · 30/04/2007 18:13

I've moved to be near a certain school for my ds, plus the new house is very suited for CMing. When ds starts that school, I won't be able to pick up from the school I currently have mindees from, so obviously I was planning on hopefully getting a few from the new local school!

I've noted a lot recently that most kids attend the after school/holiday club and after an investigation found out why - It's £2 an hour! (Most CMs here charge around £3.50 - £4 an hour to put it in perspective)

I'm not sure what to do. Obviously this is for the future - I'm not planning on taking children from this school right now. However, should I lower price in keeping with this school (and out of line with local CMs) to be competitive with the club as opposed to other CMs (I only know of two more in this school area, but there must be more) or stick to my guns hoping that a parent unkeen on after school clubs comes along!

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princesscc · 30/04/2007 19:08

I'd stick to your guns tbh. Not everyone wants the after school club arrangement. Are you just after schoolies? If not, parents who have pre-schoolers wont know about the clubs yet and only look for cms or nurseries. Don't lower your rates, you'd have to have at least half a dozen kids to make it worth doing!

Shoshable · 30/04/2007 19:16

I have children from a local school that has after school club, the parents came to me even tho I was more expensive, because they felt that they didn't want there children in a school environment for 10 hours a day, I drop off and pick up, cover inset days, and all holidays. When the after school club started thought I would lose existing children, but didn't hand have got more as they left.

princesscc · 30/04/2007 19:21

Yes, thats the bad point of after school clubs. They are only open, when the school is open! That means every six weeks its closed for a week, 2 weeks at Easter and Christmas and SIX in the summer! I think you'll be fine, stick to your guns.

ThePrisoner · 30/04/2007 19:25

My minding parents assured me that if the school started a cheaper after-school club (they haven't), they would still send their children to me. They want them to be out of the school environment, able to chill, run around the garden, have a bit of fun, and be with a different mix of children (not all their schoolmates for another couple of hours).

I would stick to your current rates - if you don't get the work, you could rethink your ideas then.

PinkChick · 30/04/2007 20:17

you could offer a promo rate to parents at school, but how would the school react to your competition??..anything is better than nothing tho, so if you can reduce fee and then get a few after/before schoolies, your still quids in!..dd's school has just set something similar up and ive lost a prosepctive mindee cos of it

em28677 · 30/04/2007 20:22

Could you offer to do activity runs after school if you have a car? Our local school has an after school club but I have managed to get children by taking them to their dancing and gym activities. Means every day is a bit like a taxi but you can claim back miles and chargea decent rate for all the running about

Original poster

lunavix · 01/05/2007 08:24

I can't do activity runs as no car...

Think I'll leave it as it (I've told people/CIS etc that I'm doing that school) and see if I start getting any enquiries. Nearer next Easter, if I've actually had none, I'll try heavily advertising myself cheaply...

princesscc - It's open every day of the year bar Christmas and Easter for a small holiday each time.

PinkChick - That's what I'm thinking, I guess some work is better than none.

OP posts:

PinkChick · 01/05/2007 08:31

you could ask shcool to put one of your posters/leaflets in window so parents have an alternative?, thats what ive done??

ayla99 · 01/05/2007 10:08

Our afterschool club costs just £7 a day for regular users, i charge £12 plus meal. People come to me because

I take (within walking distance) to after school activities like music tuition, football, dance, brownies etc. The afterschool staff used to but stopped as they found their insurance didn't cover them for this.
I can provide a decent snack or parents can book a cooked dinner if liked.
I can help with homework (some parents feel the after school club is too noisy for concentrating properly)
some younger children are overwhelmed by the noise & bustle of the older children and thrive better in the childminding environment.
club closes 5:45 pm and I am open til 6pm.

To borrow from Nick's post on another thread about some parents making a choice based on lowest cost and others on perceived value. Some people will pay more if they view it as getting more for their money.

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