Can you tell me what is a retainer for a childminder and how much it cost ?

[Summerfruit]

Message withdrawn

I charge a flat rate of £200 which is refundable against the first fees and non refundable if the place is then not taken up by the parent.

Impossible to answer I'm afraid. It just depends, some would charge set weekly/monthly fee, others would charge 50% of costs etc.....everyone is different. I've got new starters in January and took deposits from them all as I don't actually have the space until January. If I had a space now and was reserving it for then, I would HAVE to charge a retainer but I'm not sure what as I've never done that before.

What tigersmum has mentioned is a deposit and I do the same, take off first months invoice but don't refund if they don't use the space

Retainer is something you'd pay weekly/monthly from now until January

Message withdrawn

We just can't answer - everyone is different, just impossible to say as all we can do is say what we individuals charge I'm afraid

Have you found a childminder?

If not, maybe you could ring round to see if any have vacancies coming up in January - it's very possible they have someone moving up to school and will have a space?

Message withdrawn

Ok, well maybe everyone on here can say what they charge and what area they are in??? Just so you can see the type of charges there are.

Good luck with it all

Message withdrawn

i charged half from may to aug for one mindee as they really wanted the space and i could have filled it straight away,

Same as Shoshable-i charged from April-August at just less than 50% of the weekly rate of 3 days, as the parent was very happy with me and i had the space there to fill, so this secured it and meant the Mum had a very relaxed few months before her return to work.

Summerfruit, it is standard practice I am afraid. Why don't you start looking for a CM closer to January otherwise you could end up paying quite a bit just holding the place.

I had an AMAZING childminder and had no qualms about paying a retainer during half term and summer holidays.