Paying a retainer

[fido]

I currently use a CM for 2 ds, will be going on maternity leave from Jan to Nov next year and will not need CM during this time. In Nov would like CM to have 2 older ones just for an hour after school and have the baby full time. She wants a retainer for the time I'm off. Does this sound reasonable and how much should I expect to pay?
Thanks

It's normal to charge a retainer to keep a space open as we need to have some sort of income as could easily just take someone else on. I know some charge full whack, some half, it depends really. Sorry I can't help more, I've only ever needed to charge deposits til now.

I think it sounds perfectly reasonable. You will be requiring a full time place and 2 part time places. If you don't want to pay, then you cannot guarantee that you will have any places in Nov. It also means that you can use the places prior to Nov, which you may be glad of to get a moments peace!

Much depends on how much you think about your CM too. If you dare risk it, leave it and just cross fingers that she'll be able to offer you 3 places.

Sally

i would expect half whatever fee you will be paying for your full time baby (so if you will be apying £100, expect to pay £50 for her to keep that space exclusive for you) and reg your older two, how old will they be? if under 8, again half fee for the hours you will need in nove(not the hours you currently pay), so if it will be £30 for both in nov for after school, £15.
If theyre over 8, i would just expect to pay a small deposit as we are not limited for over 8's.

FWIW, paying the retainer means she cannot take anyone else on to fill this space, even from jan till nove, if she does get someone to use space jan-nov, she CAN NOT charge you retainer as shes already getting paid for YOUR space IYSWIM?

hope that helps?

Thanks for the replies. I would like to stay with same CM but dont think I can justify paying half fees for ten months, so think I'll just have to take my chances and hope I can find someone with space in Nov.

i have a mindee whos mum is taking a year out and then wants her to come back, ive told her to contact me in june/july(going back sept and if i have space she can pay retainer fromthen, but ofcourse she does still stand the chance of me not havcing the space by not paying me retainer now, i would apy for that lengh of time either though, unless i really really wanted LO to go to her and no one else?..ask her what she would charg so you can look at it.hth