What To Charge After School Care For Siblings

[Irisheyesrsmiling]

I agreed to mind for a friend's two dc after school once she stops working remotely (Oct). I've done all I need to and am now really struggling with the final piece of what to charge, we've talked in roundabout figures before but now need to confirm final numbers. The two dc are not at my dc's school, though very close by and the timings work out. Tho I did just learn her two dc are dismissed 35 minutes apart which means this will be a lot more work than it was supposed to be. Not my friend's fault, things have been so up in the air with covid.

The hours will be 2:50-6 pm for two children. There are two large centres that run after school club at a cost of £300 per child for one centre and £355 per child at the other centre and obviously double for two- that's astronomical. Childminders seem to vary so much it's really hard to find an average, also I see hourly rates posted per child but no mention of what happens with siblings. Is it double charge, or a % off for sibling discount?

Due to covid I'm only going to take this one friend's dc. Tho will likely take more once this is over.

Would a reasonable rate be £400/month (works out to £100/week or £20/day) for two dc for 3 + hours/day x 5 days/week. I was thinking I would include three school holiday days for no extra charge. Does that seem reasonable? It would work out to just under £7/hour for two dc.

In my area I've seen everything from £6/hour to £12/hour. Though the latter usually isn't child minder and more in home baby-sitter.

FWIW these friends have not had income impacted by covid, in fact income has increased for both, otherwise obviously I'd charge less to help them out. They are good friends and have said they want everything to be fair to me.

Have you registered as a child minder or are you looking after the children in their home? Are you gong to go self employed or will she be your employer and pay your tax/NI?

Registered my home and will be self employed.

If she's a good friend, have a coffee sit down with a pad and pen and talk to her about the local costs, your research and your proposed charges.

If you are planning on doing this for others, don't charge too low, it will be tricky in the future to charge different prices to mates rates.

Also when you do talk to her about your pricing up a bit, so you e hit room to offer it at less for her.

So say it would normally be £700pcm but I'm happy to look at £600, she may say can you do it for less and agree on £650 etc.

I assume she knows this is a business you are setting up and not just a favour fur her?

Charge per hour per child. Don't do any free holiday days.

I was a childminder and I had an hourly rate. No different if the children are siblings, they are taking up a space so normal rates apply.

£5 ph per child would be a reasonable charge.

The problem with childminding is it takes you below minimum wage. So think about what you are earning, your costs ( insurance ? Are you providing any means or snacks ? Drinks?)! You can charge a dinner fee or snack fee like 25p a day ? Or add this one so included. You must be clear what is included when you start.

My friend is a childminder and changes half of min wage per hour so approx £4.36, no sibling discount as only takes from same school anyway.
I personally wouldn't give free holidays free. I would charge more per hour if your care isn't stretched to the max number of children.

I don't think you need to offer the 3 days holiday care.
The rest sounds pretty fair.
Sibling discount doesn't make sense to me....an extra child costs the same to the childcare company whether it's a Sibling or not.

Don't underestimate what hard work is going to be having them there till 6pm every weekday. It needs to be worth your while financially.

Will you be expected to feed them, supervise homework?

I would go for £5 per hour per child, this is still relatively cheap for the ratios you are offering. So £30 per day for two children, which is £600 a month. If thats a bit high bring it down to £4.50 a child per hour and add in a daily meal charge of say £1. This might seem fairer but still gives more money than you proposed.

You need to factor in how much your expenses are, insurance, fuel, snacks, activities, first aid course, safeguarding course, registration costs, and then work out how much you need to earn from those hours and add that on top of your expenses.
No discount for siblings here. It costs me the same to provide care regardless if they are Siblings or not. But it really depends how many children you are planning to have overall. I know you say it will just be these two at the moment, but is your plan to have more dc at the same time moving forward (I’m not sure if there is a limit on how many families you can care for at any one time, that might depend on your insurance?)

Your responses are brilliant thank you. I helped this friend out during covid for two weeks when as essential workers they needed time to shift their schedules to be more compatible with one another (both management, no direct patient contact) and she was very kind, insisted on paying and even paid when they had to cancel the last week, so I think the idea to sit down and work it out together would be very well received.

I once helped a friend out for 6 months and was absolutely taken advantage of. This was several years ago. Never abided by any policies - brought dc sick, an hour before/after without asking, and saying I had nothing else on so it would be no bother. Nothing else includes my own dc, a part time job myself etc (worked my non childminding hours). I think I do need to make sure even if someone is a friend everything is very transparent and professional, so I really like the idea of making sure it works for me too.

Related to covid what are people doing policy wise around withdrawing? Are you waiting notice periods?

Definitely don’t offer to care for them for free in the holidays.

Work out the hourly fee you want to charge from looking at other childminders locally first before talking to her

This is your income and business can you afford to do favours and discounts for friends? What would you do if another friend asks?
I charge by the session becouse it takes a space that cant be filled so an hour is the same as 3. I dont give discount as its 2 soaces, harder work due to sibling squabbles, twice the risk

Also think long and hard about offering to do dinner for the children. Children are notoriously fussy and you can end up with a lot of wasted food and time. Or end up cooking different meals for each child. I would avoid doing meals if possible.

I pay £6 per hour per child, there is no sibling discount. I also pay for the 15 minutes before pick up as the parking is crazy, so from 3-6pm, when they finish at 3.15. I believe this is standard.

For the effort and food, £6 per hour per child is fair and reasonable.

I pay £6 for school drop off which I guess works out about an hour

And £18 for school pick up and a hot meal

Most child minders charge per hour, per child. Or some charge a daily rate, work out which suits you better.

I'm my area its about £5pcph. So for after school, 6pm finish that £15 per session. £30 for two children = £150 per week.

Same for holiday care 8am-6pm at £5ph would be £50 per child per day.

If you feel it's too much for your friends you could say you'll discount her total monthly bill by ten percent. That way you have a fee structure in place for any new families.