Childminder's Club: Do you charge?

[KangaMummy]

Do you charge for days off:

when childminded boy {cmb} is sick?

when you or your DS/DD/DH are sick?

when parents decide to go christmas shopping/to the zoo/or anywhere rather than to you?

I tend not to charge for any of the above but wonder if I am being rather daft.

cmb couldn't come last wednesday because of my DS.

cmb didn't come yesterday or today because he has temp and bad cold.

I am not being paid for any of these days. I don't know yet whether cmb is coming tommorow she was supposed to text me today but nothing yet!!!

What do you do?

I now charge as follows

termtime cost x 39 weeks
Holiday cost x 11 weeks
ADDED together Divided by 12

I charge for
Child sickness
Child Holiday
Parent Holiday
2 weeks of my holiday

I don't charge for
MY sickness

But I used to be nicer

I'm nice too like you Kanga and don't charge for any time not used.

I call my service a 'pay-as-you-go' one and so far it has worked out ok, and is a big attraction to parents/carers.

I point out to them that it is a very generous policy and that if I feel it is being abused I reserve the right to terminate my service.

My own son goes to his own childminder on the days I work elsewhere and she is nasty like you Katie and charges me a fortune

So basically I am being daft.

But there again I would rather not have an ill child,

I don't get paid for holidays even when they take them during term time

{I only work term time}

I think that is rather stupid of me actually.
I will change that with new family.

I guess I am a soft touch.

I will change when cmb leaves.

What do you do when cmb mum goes on maternity leave next spring?

I think the difference is that KMc runs it very proffessionally and like a business

well done KMc

I'm only joking lol Katie.

If I minded exclusively I would consider doing the same as you do too.

I certainly do consider childminding a business though and it is vital to be as professional or even more professional than nurseries.

I won't accept a child if they are too ill...and I do try very hard to "run a business"

It's hard not to feel guilt when they don't come - but (unfortunatley) my bills happen whether or not I get paid.

The mistake that I had with the last family was that I was friends with mum had the boy for over 4 years. It made things diff sometimes.

I'm not a CM, but my BF and a lot of my other friends are, and they all do the same as Katiemac. I think thats what the Childminders Association recommends as standard practice?

I think that there are two 'types' of childminder and each have a very valuable place within the childcare arena.

A very professional business woman - extensively trained and qualified - running a business - perhaps aiming towards Nursery Accreditation - looking at a career

A mum who wants to work from home until her children are old enough to start school. She also trains but looks at Childminding as a relatively 'short-term' job. She may also be working for extra money rather than being the primary wage earner.

Obviously there will be people who have bits of both senario.....and that it why childminding is such a flexible and adaptable form of childcare

Goodness that sounds 'preachy' but you know what I mean....

BTW I reread I also don't charge for the 2nd 2 weeks Hol I have (that is against NCMA Guildlines - 52 weeks a year incl upto 4 weeks sickness is their rules)

I think KMc you are deffo doing the best thing.

I wish that I had been more strict with them when they start.

A resolution I will be strong with the next family.

I don't think I can change now though

I find it hard enough asking for a pay rise.

I do run it as a business but I only select the families from DH school.

So I choose them as there are so many families that ask me to look after their children but I select them because of several reasons.

eg. the games teacher asked me to look after his DS but he has to go to away matches every wednesday and sport finishes later on a monday

so I didn't want to do that as it wasn't fair on DS as I help him with homework etc and take him to swimming and fencing clubs.

I did not want the hassle of cmb there till nearly 6pm on mondays and 7.30pm on a wednesday. So I said no.

My working day starts at 8pm and ends at 4.15pm.
If it is after then then it is overtime.

Nice hours - I do 7.30 to 6.....I am SO tired tonite (I've got a cold).

But I pick the children that fit in to the existing schedule.....swimming on Mon, Rainbows on Tues, Ballet on Wed, Nothing (yet) on Thurs and Swimming again on Fri.....

I feel that I do have to put DS and his feeling first.

He is 9 years now and I have been doing it since he was 3 years.

He does find the parents hard to cope with sometimes.

They just seem to interfere with whatever he is doing especially cmb granny.

Yep I've only been at it for 18 m, my DD thinks that she is a childminder - as she is the oldest she is 'sort of' in charge - we are building an extension so that we can separate it from HOME and WORK
That way I will be able to help DD with her H/W in the kitchen while DH changes nappies in the playroom...

I wish we had the space to do that I childmind in our sitting room and then the dining room is taken up with cots only one up atm.

So it is our family space that is given over to it.

Childminded children never go upstairs though.

I have the cm children's paintings on the walls and their photos {after checking with parents}

So our sitting room looks like a nursery.

Because we are SO busy and it has taken over our House/life/relationships - this is the only way forward for us. Either we build the extension we can't afford or we give up - and I like it too much.

byw we have 3 cots up at the moment

How does your DD cope with all the comings and goings?

You don't have to answer as it is a bit personal

I'm finding this thread very interesting, girls!

It's great to have an opportunity to discuss these things with other c/m from other parts of the country!

I think my business sounds more like Kangamummy's although I am qualified and experienced. I really admire your proffessional approach Katiemac,I wish I wasn't such a soft touch....

I have two young children 3 + 6,and I only c/m part time as my home is very small and I feel that c/m'ding is taking over as it is!

I do enjoy it though and I feel my 2 benefit from the company....

Kangamummy,that post sounds like I'm saying you're a soft touch too! I didn't mean it to sound like that- sorry!

I know we all take c/m seriously in our own way!

As I don't have any under 5's it is easier. I have to keep reminding myself that everyone else gets paid holiday and sick. Cahrging year really helps that way - the parents see it as a fixed cost (like mortgage) rather than a variable

A bit about my minding business, I mind 4 under 3 at the same time, ofsted approved as it is continuity of care after a maternity leave. They are all girls, sisters 11 months, 2.9 years. 20 months and 2.6 years They are great fun together and my network co ordinator sees me working with them, at the moment about once a week as I am just finishing my accreditation.I also do the school run 3 mornings and afternoons for the boys who I have looked after for nearly 4 years, I pick all the children up in the morning at the High school and drop off in the afternoon at the High School, so I clear up before I go out at 3 and when back at 4.15 there are no toys to be seen and it is back to being my teenagers sitting room. All my equipment is stored in wicker baskets in a specially built unit in the laundry room.

When the elder ones are eligible for the nursery funding, we are going to split it 2 mornings at playgroup and three with me.

I also only work term time ( 36 weeks) 8 - 4. all the children come from teachers at the independent school that my daughter went to until this summer.

I am Secretary of the County Childminding association and organise the activity day and AGM. This year we had Sasha Felix from Sing and Sign and it was fantastic. Next year we hope to have Hanne Boutrup from Lego who did the national Conference last year.

Minding does not really impact on my house, although DH has an office at home, as do I. I use one room specifically for c/m - the conservatory, which is carpeted and half brick, so very warm. The children do use the breakfast room, kitchen, dining room, large hall, (for putting up a tent! ) They do not go in my drawing room, cream sofas and cream carpets!

I have been doing this for 18 years and I love it. It is best when they start as babies, you get that special relationship. I love my job and am proud of it.

I have a website here it needs to be updated soon.

How is your accreditation going - I'm about to start mine and quite dreading it.

I'm also concerned how it will impact on my relationship with my local (small) nursery - I don't want to step on any toes [wink}

Message withdrawn

I am feeling rather demoralised and misunderstood now

When I left school all I wanted to be was a nanny {after the Wendy Craig series on TV}

So I went to college to get my A levels.

NNEB was not available at any college near me.

Went to work as a nanny in London for 3 years and then went to Canada {with their government's special nanny scheme}[including caring for 18month old boy and his newborn triplet sisters!!] for a further 3 years.

Came home to get married. I volunteered at a day nursery each week {they thought I was a bit mad to volunteer not wanting to be paid, but it was fun}

Then I looked after a little boy with DS while his mum worked as a nurse for short shifts.

When DS was 3 years old decided that I wanted to work with children again and as being a nanny wasn't practical decided on being a childminder with families from DH school.

I have been a childminder for over 6 years, and I enjoy it very much.

OK I am not interested in doing NVQs but I am a member of NCMA, and I do have first aid. {obviously, although I need to do a new course in near future}

In my last OFSTED inspection I got a good this was in the spring 2004.

I believe that I do a great and very important job.

I don't have any problem with the children but sometimes the parents/grandparents get a bit too much. IYSWIM.

I choose to work only part time because I feel it is important for me to be available for DS for instance to go on school day trips with him to go and watch him in an assembly playing his trumpet. Also I like having time for myself to mumsnet.

So everyone does childminding differently but we are all doing a valuable job.

Also I believe that childminders provide a more friendly atmosphere for children and they are allowed to be individuals.

I do realise that I am a soft touch as far as what the parents "get away with" but I do believe that I am a proffessional childminder with loads of experience.

Rant over, I was just upset this morning