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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

Calling all childminders!!

16 replies

AbbyLou · 09/07/2007 14:40

My ds cm is absolutely fab and he loves her to bits. She doesn't look after him in the holidays as I am a teacher so I am at home myself. DO any of you have any suggestions about what I could get her as an end of year thank you gift? What sorts of things would be valued the most?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mogs0 · 09/07/2007 14:48

How about some new resources for her setting, paints, paper etc?

I would be grateful and touched with a home-made card or painting!!

What a thoughful Mum you are!!

Original poster

AbbyLou · 09/07/2007 15:17

That's a good idea Mogs! I was going to get ds to make her a card himself as I always think it's nicer. Resources are a good idea because she will use them with all the kids then won't she? Mmmm, what to get.....She has so much stuff!

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Original poster

AbbyLou · 09/07/2007 21:45

Any other ideas?

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gooseegg · 09/07/2007 22:17

One of my minded children went with their mum to a paint your own pottery place and made me a fabulous plate which I have got hung on the playroom wall. I treasure it.

LoveMyGirls · 10/07/2007 07:38

I love flowers but then again something she can keep would be nice.

Can i be nosy and ask what she charges you in the holidays? Do you pay more when she does have him or do you pay a retainer for her to keep the space open for him, what do you do if she wants holiday in term time etc? I'm asking because i've had a teacher asking for a space in september and i'm not sure what is considered fair. I can see from her pov if she's not working and doesnt need childcare why pay during the hols but by the same token i'm still working and could look after a child that comes all year round iyswim.

MaureenMLove · 10/07/2007 08:25

How much do you want to spend? One of mine bought me this for my birthday last year. Its the most precious thing I've ever been bought! The words just say it all really. Bit pricey, but there's loads of places you can get them and you may be able to get a better price.
What about something for her garden? Although I don't think you can beat a really nice homemade 'something' from the child himself!

siriussaltire · 10/07/2007 08:28

A nice plant either in a pot for indoors or soemthing for the garden
A nice garden ornamnet -I don't mean a gnome, I mean like a nice fairy or disney character

Original poster

AbbyLou · 10/07/2007 11:36

Lovemygirls - or course you can be nosy! She doesn't charge me anything for the holidays at all and no extra during term time but I think that is because she has 2 girls who she only looks after in the holidays so ds place is filled. She takes 2 weeks holiday a year as well as a few odd days. To make it fair for everybody she always takes one week in term time and one not. When she takes a week in term time I have to call in lots of favours from friends and grandparents but as it's only a week I can usually cover it. I am on maternity leave at the moment so ds is only going part time. For that she charges me full price for the days he's there and half price for the days he's not. This is a retainer to keep the place.
Maureen that Willow Tree figure is lovely - you must be well-loved too. I will look into that too I think.
Thanks for the ideas everyone, they are all good.

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LoveMyGirls · 10/07/2007 12:01

Thanks very much. Will be bearing it in mind if she comes back to me, if i still have the space that is

blodwen · 10/07/2007 13:35

I have always appreciated a bottle of wine or bunch of flowers and a card with a nice massage. Probably similar things to what you would be happy to receive as a teacher I should imagine? I am having the opposite problem! I am a retiring childminder (after 16 years)and can't decide what to give the children for leaving presents! There are 11 of them from 11 months to 12 years! Any ideas appreciated!

mogs0 · 10/07/2007 13:49

Blodwen - I'm leaving my 4 mindees at the end of the year and have bought each of them a picture pocket which holds about 40 photos. I am filling them with photos from the time they've spent with me. Last Christmas I made a photo book for my mindee's Mum and Dad filled with pics of mindee. They were really chuffed and is a lovely keepsake.

Original poster

AbbyLou · 10/07/2007 18:01

Aaahh, that's a lovely idea Mogs. What a thoughtful cm you are. I would love something like that from ds cm. Shae has kept a little scrapbook of photos of him and records of things he has done but I have never seen it. She keeps them until they start school and then she gives it to them. Don't know if ds bothered but I can't wait to see it.

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mogs0 · 10/07/2007 19:12

Whilst cleaning up this evening after my tazmanian devil mindees I thought of another gift your cm would love (well, this CM would love it anyway!!), A CLEANER!!!!!!

blodwen · 10/07/2007 20:21

Thanks Mogs0. I do have hundreds (if not thousands!) of photos of mindees. I've had them all since they were babies, so for 11 years in the case of the 12 years old. The photos are a mixture of prints and digital. I will do some investigating. I have made scrap book type things for other mindees who have left in the past, but they have only left one at a time - losing 11 in one go (and moving house) not sure if I can devote enough hours at the moment!

blodwen · 10/07/2007 20:23

LOL at the cleaner suggestion . I love my cleaner, but I think I might be a bit offended if parent suggested I need one! How about vouchers for a pampering session of some sort? Or M & S? I would love either of those!

mogs0 · 10/07/2007 20:37

All my parents know how grateful and thrilled I'd be if they paid for someone to clean my flat!! But I see your point about some being offended!!

The photo books were done digitally and, like you, I had a combo of prints and digital. I had to scan all the prints into my computer which took a long time as my computer kept over-heating and crashing!! It was worth it though. It would be really hard to choose photos from the last 11 years, there must be so many! I'm not finishing until the end of the year so have plenty of time to get them organised.

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