Childminder - how much do you pay?

[Libelula21]

When we placed our son in nursery, over time we started using his key worker from the baby room for occasional babysitting. That worked really well, and my son loves her.

With the pandemic, we have used her more for all day childminding, when nursery was still shut but childminding allowed. I was charged at the babysitting rate: £10 / hour.

During lockdown that was ok, because exceptional circumstances, and I was happy that my son was the only child she’d take on a given day.

But that means 9am - 5pm childcare costs me £80. I live in Edinburgh, which is an expensive city. I’d like to continue using this childminder - she’s like family to my son - but equally feel that that’s a bit of a rip-off price.
What’s the going rate for 1:1 childminding?

In your home or hers?

I used a CM but not 1 to 1. Her home. I paid 4.50ph inc meals.

She's not a childminder if she's in your home, she's a nanny.
Childminders have a few children they mind in their own home, and charge about £5 an hour.
If this woman is your employee you'll have to set up payroll etc and employ her, I think the going rate would be about £10 an hour for a fairly junior nanny.

A childminder needs to be approved and works in her own home. Is that what she does? Otherwise she's a nanny/babysitter Anyway, one to one child care isn't cheap, but you are actually only paying £10 per hour.

London - we pay £6/hour (went up from £5 about 1.5 years ago). Includes all food/snacks.

Real childminders would be unlikely to choose to do it one on one, they would struggle to make ends meet. As pp said, they have to be registered as a cm and have their house approved to do this, I was charged £4.50 an hour (up North!) but cm had four children there plus extra for school run. If she’s coming to you, she’s a nanny and will cost a lot more, especially if you factor in pension and NI.

Agree she’s not a childminder. She’s a nanny and for a nanny providing sole care, £10ph is cheap.

I live in the South East so not sure if any of this is relevant to you.
However Childminders can set their own rates. I used to start from £4. Per hour. I was all inclusive, I paid for nappies, food, suncream and outings. However I do know some who charge around £6 per hour plus £20. Per week which they call a voluntary payment for all of the above-mentioned and do not provide trips. Also down here there are some who charge around £9. Per hour.
Regardless of how qualified your current minder is UNLESS she is actually registered as a childminder at her home address then she is breaking the law and so are you. Ofsted can issue fines of up to £10000. Each to each person who knows this. So might be worthwhile checking as I don't know if rules are any different in Scotland.

You could also try the Childminding thread, see if NannyOgg is around. She is far more knowledgeable than me about these things. Good luck

Hi,

Thanks for these responses. I’m pretty sure she’s properly registered as a childminder. She was Room Leader / Management at the nursery, and then left to work elsewhere / do nannying.

She left the nursery in Feb 2020, so has not really worked much in normal conditions.

To be clear: she takes my son into her home. When babysitting, that was very occasional, never in the evening, and usually involved a combo of taking him to the park / soft play and having him at home.

Now that the nursery has re-opened, I’m using her less, but want to ramp up my career soon, and am thinking of future school holiday cover, etc.

@Whynotnowbaby

I think it’s just been a discrepancy because in Scotland childminders were allowed to provide childcare before the nurseries re-opened.

She took my son in her home 2-3 days per week, and I think also later did some ad hoc nannying at one or two other homes - to help out during post-operation recovery, eg.

Childminders are cheaper because the have a few children. I paid £5.50 (Glasgow) per hour but childminder had 4 children. When ds started preschool and she only watched him 3 hours I still paid £25 per day as it wouldn't be worth her while to keep a space for the 3 hours I needed.

Also I have never heard of a childminder who works school hols but not the rest of the year. And you pay set days per week it doesn't change often unless unless permanent change to contract that suits both. Includes when we are on holiday.

Sounds like you have a babysitter/nanny so rate is very fair.

@sally872

Thanks - this is useful. It’s all been very short term and ad hoc for pandemic purposes (2021 only) but I’m realising now I need to give more thought to a regular contractual basis and make sure I’m paying her fairly (it’s probably been cash-in-hand so far, I haven’t asked, but haven’t received receipts or anything), as well as check out that she is properly insured, etc.

I’m a widowed solo parent not working just now (career break due to pandemic and above and below caring duties), so I wouldn’t have been able to pay much more.

I’m still deciding which school (catchment, GME, RC, out-of-catchment or private) to place DS in, but as soon as that’s clear I can put a proper structure in place.

Thanks all

If you can get a childminder you like then it is really good. Cheaper and more personal than nursery. Became like an Auntie figure to my child. Think it is best if you can get a recommendation. Ideally the person you are using now will make a go of childminding in the usual sense.

Thinking ahead to school holidays once your child is 5 there are more sports/dance/general holiday clubs they can attend so there are options for holiday only childcare if that is what you need just need to be organised as they book up.

At 3 your child will be entitled to 30 hours childcare at school nursery (possibly less if a private nursery) Private nursery hours will be more flexible though.

When looking at schools I would think more about the high school they feed into as most primary schools will be good enough. I found that attending local catchment school means children went to school with lots of our neighbours so have lots of friends nearby to play with at weekends and after school which is much easier for me that scheduled play dates.

Our nearest childminder charges £4.50p/h inc food. We aren’t using her has she doesn’t have space. £4-4.75p/h is average here.
It’s on a par with nursery, as we pay £51/day for a full day (7.30-6)

If shes taking your child to hers for more than 2 hours a day she needs to be registered as a childminder. Most nursery staff do not know what is required for registration as a childminder. If she is not registered shes not insured or inspected