CM CLUB Days out how do you charge?

[OFSTEDoutstanding]

Hi I need some advice. Next week will be the first school holiday that I will be having mindees all week not including the monday. They are 2 sisters (9 and 11) and absolutely lovely. I will also have my ds (1) and mindee 1 (8months). During term time ds and mindee 1 go out loads of places such as soft play as they are free to get in but I was wondering how it works for older mindees? Obviously parents will pay the mindees entrance into the place but what do I do? Next week for example we are going to the local farm, it costs £5 to get in, ds and mindee 1 are free. The farm is 20 miles away and I am planning on taking a picnic as I provide all meals as part of my hourly rate and this keeps costs down. The question I am asking is: Do I charge their mum £5 each to get in or do I split my entrance fee as well so mindee 1, the sisters and myself (on behalf of ds) all pay £1.25 for me to get in? How do you all work it, would really love some advice especially as in the summer hols they have asked to go to legoland etc, which is not a problem but could do with knowing how to charge for it? Or do I just pay my own entrance even though I would not be going these places if it wasn't for the mindees, especially the places ds is too young to get much benefit from. Please help am really stuck

must admit dont charge parents anything, its inclusive of what they pay, we tend to go one place aweek that we have to pay, the rest of the week its just petrol and parking, I just put the entrance fees onto my expenses, so that i dont pay tax.

hiya i ask parents for entry fees and parents usually give pocket money too.
Must admit i'm happy to pay for me as i take ds(5).
Have you got a nectar/tesco card as you could use points from these and save loads of money.
Don't forget you can put the entry fees through your accounts.
Tesco is also giving out free day out vouchers on a £10 spend can be used at lego land(when accompanied by full paying adult).
I also search the internet for vouchers for days out to keep costs down.
I hope you have a great half term with the kids i know i will! i love going out and about and getting paid to play! yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

have to say that i agree with shoshable, try to find free places to go. Make the most of parks etc and out side games. Good LUCK!!!

I also don't charge for outings that we go on.

Everything, including anything I am charged for myself, is then put on my expenses to lessen my tax bill. Sometimes, the bill for one day can seem rather large (icecreams may be essential!!) but when I look at how much money I am earning over a year for any particular child, I see holiday outings as a "perk" for the child/parent (hope that makes sense).

When I started childminding, I charged a slightly higher rate than other local minders, but worked it in my favour by not charging for anything over and above that rate. Parents know what they will be charged each week, with no hidden surprises.

OFSTEDoutstanding - if you usually charge parents for the outings, then I assume that they will still expect to pay for this day out. I don't think you can charge them for your own entrance or your ds's.

I dont charge my parents unless its somewhere ultra expensive and then i ask for a contribution or alternitively i tend to swallow the cost but only go somewhere like that once IYSWIM.
Im lucky though cos loads of places near me that are free or very cheap!!!
Your entrance fee goes through your books and comes off profit so dont charge them!!!

I've used a form for parents to sign their permission for child to go, detailing where we're going & the cost to parent and also confirming drop off/collection times and if they need to bring anything eg swim kit.

I usually charge parent for their child's entrance, cost of bus fare, cost of lunch. I pay for my own entrance, petrol and icecreams/treats.

Thanks I knew I would get good advice from all of you
TP I don't expect people to [ay entrance for my ds just wasn't sure what to do about myself. Think I will charge parents childrens entrance then put my own through my books. We don't go really expensive places but am so cheap per hour that I have to charge for days out really or I would lose money each week.

what i do is print a timetable up for the parents to read with where we are going, what the child needs,and what times we will be out

tuesday 29th
moor park for a picnic then onto P.N.E football ground 10am - 4pm
need: packed lunch, spending money for P.N.E shop (optional)
wednesday 30th
play at mine in the morning then onto skeate park 1.30pm - 6pm
need: packed lunch, skate board/roller boots, helmet and pads
thursday 31st
glass painting and mc donalds 10am - 2pm
need: old clothes, £3 towards materals and food
friday 1st
preston docks 10am - 4pm
need: packed lunch, bike/scooter, £1 spends (optional)

i have found after 5 yrs of making packed lunchs in the hols to take out with us it is easier to ask children to bring their own in a gym bag, parents have all said its a good idea

Thats a really good idea dmo but can I ask do you provide all food the rest of the time? My hourly rate is inclusive of all meals, drinks and snacks so do you think parents will get funny if I then ask for a pack up? In term time its ok to include all meals etc but in hols it gets really expensive!

yes i do normally provide meals but in the hols they bring a packed lunch
some of the little ones only stay till 1.30pm normally but in hols i keep them a bit longer on some of the days as we go out for the day (free of charge) so that cancels out food payment
also school hol children just pay £22 for the day whatever hours they attented instead of my normal £3.20 per hr