Why is it never straightforward?

[Earthymama]

Hi, can I pick your brains?

A parent has rung to ask if I have a place for a 2 yr old, answer to my prayers as all littles leaving, parents losing job, maternity etc.

BUT she works different days all the time so she might want 2 days for a few weeks, then maybe 4 days. It would be different days too, ie not Mon and Tues regularly, but each week would be different.

So what should I do? Could I charge for this in a way that would make it worthwhile as the child would be taking up a place and I can't see anyone else wanting hours that would fit around hers, can you?

You can't you have to charge for the hours she might want
You could offer to refund - if you get an ad-hoc booking

Or you book for 2 days minimum (always the same 2 days) & she has the option to book extra days if she needs - but she must understand that you might not have any other days - if you have booked another child in to the space

if she wants you to keep 4 days available she should pay you for those days. It is a business afterall. The chances of you getting another family to fit in around her hours are slim!

I knew of a family who paid extra so that the CM wouldnt take on any other children! she wanted 1 to 1 care. Fair enough but she had to pay for it.

she should either pay for 4 days - in full as retainer for you to drop everything at last minute or pay for 2 and shell have to hope you have the space!...FWIW, i have this arrangement for one part timer and its a night mare(may be just this parent tho, i never have enouh notice!)

Would tax credits cover the 4 days? This is where it gets to be a nightmare, isn't it!

they pay up to 80% off c.care costs and must understand there will be retainers if her job is so variable?

That's what i thought. Maybe I could ask for a retainer for the extra days, which she could pay full amount for if used? If it was 2 regular days obviously I would only charge for those and hope to fill the other days.

my other mindee has really odd hours too; it must be a nightmare for parents!!

Would you be happy if she paid for 3 days per week regardless and then she pays you for a forth day if needed? If you egt another enquirey then take if from there? Perhaps pre warn her that she is using a whoel space so may not be finacially viable long term?

Thanks guys, for your advice. i have to ring her on Wed evening so I'll to explain the limitation on numbers etc.

I think I'll go for the pay for three days each week, which I'll be happy to work, and other day will be extra.

I guess it's not knowing WHICH days is the biggest pain.

Thanks again
EM

What I've done for shift workers before is to charge 1/2 fees for each day they want to reserve for their child's use, raising fee to full fees for each day booked. So, assuming your lady might need any week day her minimum charge would be 3 days x 1/2 fees plus 2 days x full fees.

The contract says what we've agreed about when they will notify me which days they won't need; if I don't receive this notification they agree to pay full fees for the week. If they book a day and then want to change days they pay full fees for the unused originally booked day and the newly booked day. If they later don't need a booked day they still pay full fees. I agree that the 1/2 fees will be waived if I'm closed for sickness or annual holiday or if I'm able to book out the unused days to anyone else (eg covering for another cm).

I used to have a similar siuation, only the dad worked on a 5 week rolling roat, so I knew exactly which days I would have the child.week1 Monday tuesday friday
week 2 Wednesday Thursday Friday etc

They always paid me for three days, even on week 5 when I had the child for only 1 day. Week 4 I had him 5 days, but I always knew that every few weeks I wouldn't have nay ad hoc places.