How do I charge for this one?

[OFSTEDoutstanding]

Hi, one of my mindees pays me monthly in advance and then any changes during the month ie my sickness or extra hours are amended in the following months bill either adding extra money or mum not needing to pay as much. My contract clearly states that my holiday=no pay, their holiday=half pay, my illness=no pay, mindee illness=£5 which I know isn't alot but that is because I would rather the parents were willing to pay such a small amount and keep their dc at home rather than try to send them to me ill and making both myself and mindees ill. Thing is today mindee arrives and after hour has to go home as has been ill. What do you think I should charge? Full day rate, half day rate or illness charge? Have to do bill for next week which is why I am asking now. TIA

I would have thought it would be a nice gesture to bill for invoice rate only - so long as this isn't something that's a regular thing.

Don't really know though!

Oops - meant sickness rate!

If you're happy to accept just £5 for a whole days sick leave then maybe word the contract so that the £5 is the maximum daily charge for when the child is absent or collected early due to sickness. I think you should charge your hourly rate for the time the child attends and £5 for the rest of the day. (also incentive for parent to collect promptly if your hourly rate continues to apply til the child is gone).

If you don't already, you might want to include in your contract a maximum number of days parents can book off sick at the reduced rate - unfortunately there are parents who have taken advantage of this type of contract by pretending their child is sick when they want to take time off for other reasons. That way you have the option to charge if you think a parent is misleading you, but you can choose to extend the reduced fees where you know a child's sickness is genuine, eg if in hospital or serious condition.

I would charge hourly rate until pick up and then illness rate. By bringing child you have been exposed to their germs. A parent once told me it looks more favourrable to go in then be called home than to not try to go in at all.

I chrage full fee when ill, and am very strict about sending straight back home if they arrive ill, took me a while to get so strict tho!