annual leave

[soak]

Morning all! well, I have been busy getting together my different forms and handbooks etc (which is why I haven't been on here as much as I would have liked!) but I have now come across a snag and want the general opinion please!!!

in my handbook I have put that I will take upto 2 weeks annual leave but obviously I want to have minimum disruption to parents so will try and take my holiday at the same time BUT in my handbook I have put that their holidays are at retainer and mine are not charged so what do I do when the majority have booked their hols for the same time and I book mine to fit in with them?
do I still charge the retainer for those away but no charge for those not on holiday or do I not charge anyone??????

bump!!

How much is the retainer?

With my childminder, she would charge in full when we were on holiday and half price for when she was on holiday.
So in my situation the retainer no matter who was on holiday would have left me better off.
It would also stop arguments about who booked their holiday first.

the retainer would be half the usual cost - I had put that I wouldn't charge when I was on holiday as the parents would have to find alternative arrangements for childcare...

hmmmm

Not sure, but I would either charge everyone the retainer or no-one. No matter when the holiday was booked.

As a parent, I would probably want to take my holiday the same time as you. I would not want to faff about trying to find another childminder for 2 weeks.
Lots of notice about when you want your holiday would always be really appreciated.

If you are likely to take your holidays during the school holidays. it has got to be easier for the parents to fit in with you, rather than you trying to fit in with 3 or 4 families

HI!

THERES A MEETING IN THE STAFF ROOM FOR AL CMS.

XX

can these help you with your question?

www.childmindingmatters.org.uk/index.htm l

I'm not a CM so dont realy know the procedures.

In my contract I choose half the holidays and my employers choose half, that way its fair, but they pay me for hols anyway so its not really helpful to you is it? Sorry.

thanks fifi - it has helped a bit but I was after more of what the rest of the CM's do in this situation - if there is anything in their t&c's they could let me pinch...!!!!

Right!! I have had a think through - how does this sound???

I take up to 2 weeks unpaid leave a year, this is at my discretion. I will give at least 1 months notice.
If, however, our holidays co-inside this will still be charge at retainer price for the period you are on holiday. E.g. if my holiday is booked for 4th June ? 8th June and yours is booked 7th June ? 15th the retainer will be from 7th ? 15th but there will be no charge for 4th ? 6th.

You can do it like that if u like!
I charge 4weeks at half pay for my hols and never had any probs with that. I try to give the 4weeks at the beginning of the year so parents can take same hols if they so wish,Otherwise if they take hols at any other time, full pay is required.

thanks mykids!!!

i would say (in your position though as i charge full for theirs half for mine)....1/2 fees for ANY time they are absent..hols/sickness/parents keep them off etc..your hols=no fee..if parent takes off same week as you they still pay half fee.
TBH i think your selling yourself short

I charge no fee when I am unavailable, full fee when I am. This black and white ruling seems to be working and there is o cause for confusion (or parents trying it on).

I give parents my holiday dates for the year in the January, then if they book the same weeks off as me they save money.

I used to charge half fee when kids were absent and found parents used it as a money saving incentive, (ie sending kids to gran's on tuesday, so only paying half fee, not consdiering I also have bills to pay).

I wish when I had been preparing for my first mindees someone had told me to take a stand and put myself and my business first. I chose half fee for parents if kids were absent as this is what I would like as a parent. However, I now realise the error in this, I should have looked at it from a business point of view. (Now charge full fee)

Some parents will immediately sense if you are a big softy and try it on, pay late, pick up late, etc if you let them once. We all do it! I have late payment fees written into my contracts now. I have enforced it once, on one parent - word must have spread.

I am not trying to put you off honest! Just that please start as you mean to go on with parents. I have one family that will probably continue to take advantage of me, and I will continue to resent (the parents that is), as I feel we have gone past the point where I should have put a stop to things.

thanks all!!! I had already got it down that if they take time off without a certain amount of notice that they would be charged full rate (and if I'm off there would be none) and that if they were on their hols it would be 1/2.

I just confused myself when I realised that if our hols co-incided if I didn't charge as I was off then they would get an extra week or so holiday! (especially as I had calculated who gets what holiday depending on hours they are with me!)

thanks again all!!!