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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

HELP! to MANY prospective parents, what to do?????????????????????

31 replies

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 15:51

Hi, i have a bit of a dilema at the moment, had a parent with baby wants to start in mar(8m in mar), says she wants me but have not heard from her in 2weeks, i have another parent coming tonight with 18m old to possibly start in asap, and a parent coming on tuesday with 1yr twins to start in mar.
should i contact first parent and let them no there place could be taken if does not get in contact soon and pay retainer? and wud ideally only like to take on 2 as i am due own baby in aug, so how do i decide who to choose, IF they all chose me?????

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 16:19

Blimey Kiddiecare! Only about 6 weeks ago, you didn't have any prospective parents? (That was you, wasn't it? [)

I would suggest contacting the March one and telling her that you need to take a retainer from her, because you have other parents interested. I would also hope that the 18m is a goer for you! Twins, along with 18m and your own lo's is gonna be exhausting! I think if you can get an answer from the 18m tonight or before the twins come anyway, you should tell the twins you can't have them. It really will be a lot of work, especially if you're pg. Good luck.

fruitloop79 · 04/01/2008 16:48

Just wondering how you got so many? Did they get your name from the direct.gov website? How did you advertise? I'm in need of vacancies filling!!!!

LoveMyGirls · 04/01/2008 16:52

I would ring and get her to do contracts and pay retainer asap if she didnt or she wasn't willing to come asap then I would take first come first served (along with who wantgs to start sooner and who is most hours). This is a business and you have to keep that in mind. Mind you these day's im also looking at how well I get on with them, are our ideas in parenting silmilar, have they got stable jobs/ careers etc - i've been burnt a few times since I started and now am alot more picky as to who I take on.

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 17:40

thanks for all your advice, yes ur right MML, its brill cant believe ive had so much interest, the lady with the twins got my info from childcarelink, and the other to found me on gumtree. i think i will see how tonight goes and then call march lady tomorrow.

OP posts:

shoshe · 04/01/2008 17:51

KC, it is a good time to add to your handbook That prospective parents have a certain amount of time to decide weather thay want the space. sign contracts and pay retainer.

As some of you might remember I had this with a family last year, after two weeks still hadn't signed contracts (I have awaiting list), so phoned said please sign contracts by 6pm, or the place is going to the next on the elist.

The place went to the next on the elist.

Then two days later got a phone call from the original family, who said she would be in on the following Friday to sign, she got very annoyed when I said the place had gone,

When I said I had told her it would happen she said 'I thought you were just saying that to get the retainer!'

Not being funny but it is know here that I have a waiting list, and she knew other clients of mine.

MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 18:13

Good call Shosh, putting a clause in your T&C's. I've never had to do that tbh, cm's are few & far between round here, so generally you know you're gonna get whoever comes to see you. That, or my reputation goes before me! (As a CM that is, NOT a piss head! )

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 18:46

really annoyed now, lady was supposed to be hear at 6:30, and hasnt turned up or called, how annoyin.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 19:02

What a pain. Hope she's turned up now. Let us know!

LoveMyGirls · 04/01/2008 19:08

fingers crossed for you Kiddi!

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 19:12

nope she didnt come, weird tho as she only first contacted me yest and wanted to come asap. fingers crossed twins mum comes now, she called today and sed comin tues. feel gud tho that ive had quite a few pparents interested in such a sort space of time.

OP posts:

LoveMyGirls · 04/01/2008 19:18

Dod you call her to see why she didn't come? I always ring if more than 20mins late just to see if coming or not, I usually ask if they are stuck in traffic or are lost?

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 19:26

no, she called from her work number so wud not have been able to contact her there. never mind.

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MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 19:34

Well, since it was asap, maybe something else turned up for her. Bit off, all the same.

So then, now we have possible 8m in March and possible 1yr twins. Will the twins be 1 in March or 1 now? Just thinking ahead to when you have the baby. (Congrats btw!) Supposing you start work again just before Christmas, you could have nearly 2 year old twins, 1 yr olf, new baby and your other lo?

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 20:40

hi. mml, i only want to take on 2mindees so the twins would be great, and my son is 5 so at school all day, and yes plus lil one, seems alot but im hopin ill cope

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 20:45

Oh if you can get just the twins that would be perfect! Thats easy! They'll be old enough to do things theirselves and will be 'helpful' with the baby! Lets hope the twins works out.

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 20:52

yh fingers crossed for the twins, but if first parent contacts me before hand id love to take on her baby boy, we all got on sooooo well, (she stayed for 2hrs), i will have to contact her after i meet twins mum and let her now she may loose place, and do you think i should tell twins mum i have an interest from another parent, as if first parent signs contract i dont think i would take twins also, 3 plus new baby would be way to much i think.

OP posts:

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 20:53

also do u give a discount to parents with kids from same family, i was thinking 10%

OP posts:

saff · 04/01/2008 20:58

Hi kiddiecare when did you put ad on gumtree

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 21:00

hi saff i put ad on there a while ago, sometime early dec, just today renewed it as generating alot of interest.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 21:14

Have you got breathing space between twins coming and 18m old confirming? If so, you could always say to 18m that you've just found out your pg, so you are reviewing your situation.

Seriously though, how far gone are you? Have you mentioned it to prospective parents?

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 21:26

18m old parent didnt come, twins mum comin on tuesday so will contact 8m olds mum then.
i am only 8weeks(due mid/end aug) so have not told any of them yet, i am not plannin on taking too muc time off and have a great bacl up cm who is not plannin on takin on mindees for a while so she would be happy to help out also, i was also thinking of havin my sis as an assistant for around time baby is born so coming back to work early wont seem to dreadful with the extra help.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 21:30

Sorry, I knew that, slip of the finger on the key board! You sound like you've really thought it through. I think that whoever you end up taking will be absolutely fine. Please drop into the staff room if you can. It'd be lovely to speak to you there and you can bounce ideas and all sorts, off of all of us.

Original poster

KiddieCare · 04/01/2008 21:37

thanks mml, ur always so much help

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 04/01/2008 21:45

Just trying to help a fellow cm get her business off the ground! We have lists upon lists of fabbo websites for colouring pages and ideas for little ones in the staff room. You only have to ask!

ToomanynewyearsROSElutions · 04/01/2008 21:51

LOL you make me laugh you do...im walking around cockney geezer twang going.."iiii'm reeeeveiwinnnnggg, the situaaaatttionnn..da.da.da.daaa.daaa"

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