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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

Have never used a childminder and not sure about something

17 replies

MummyHD · 02/02/2008 20:48

Hello, I am due to go back to work in April (for 3 days a week) and am considering my childcare options for my 9 month old boy, Angus (who will be 11 months in April)

I know it is normal for a child to be dropped off at a childminder, but do some childminders pick the children up from their home? This is because I will be doing a longish commute by train to London for work, so if Angus was picked up in the morning it would save time and I could then come home earlier to pick him up. Is this something that a childminder does? I should add that my husband would be able to drop him off on some days, but he works away a lot so this would be for those days when he is not around.

Thanks so much

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mollythetortoise · 02/02/2008 20:52

you would have to ask but i would think not, unless your son was their only mindee and they lived nearby.

MirandaG · 02/02/2008 20:56

It would depend on the minder. Some do, epecially if it is on the way of the school run (if they're doing one), but it would depend on the drop off times of the other children and how close you leave to her etc. Call a few in your area and ask. Hope you find someone willing!

MirandaG · 02/02/2008 20:56

sorry live

aGalChangedHerName · 02/02/2008 20:58

I do offer to pick children up and also drop them off but it does cost a bit extra. I charge whatever from the time i leave the house and time taken to drop off and also charge petrol money.

I have only done it for 2 of my parents tho as they were both single mums who couldn't drive.

PeachesMcLean · 02/02/2008 20:59

Will depend on how keen the CM is for the work, I'd have thought. Where we are, CM places are like golddust. And if it's around the time other children are being delivered to her house, she'll need to be there instead.

aGalChangedHerName · 02/02/2008 20:59

Sorry meant to say i would do it again for any parent if they asked and if it fitted in with my other runs eg school/nursery.

tassisssss · 02/02/2008 21:03

my lovely CM picks up dd at the school gates where dh drops ds at pre-school. Really works for us. Worth asking.

(and can I just say that I LOVE the name Angus and will mention it to dh as a possibility later!!)

MaureenMLove · 02/02/2008 21:23

I'm a CM and I wouldn't do it, tbh. Apart from the fact that I have other mindees coming to me in the morning, a minder on here had enormous trouble with one of her clients, because her car broke down and there was no way she could collect. It led to all sorts of finanial problems, with parents refusing to pay. Thing is, generally, if you choose not to send your lo to your cm on a contracted day, you still pay. This minders family, insisted that it was her fault that they couldn't get their lo to her, so refused to pay. Very grey area, I know, but there you go.

Personally, I feel if you want to use a cm, then it is your responsiblity to get your lo there and collect, not the cm.

ayla99 · 03/02/2008 09:43

Personally, I would only be able to do this by
a) collecting your child and returning to my home by 8 am, prior to the arrival of any other child. This would incur a transportation fee of 40p per mile for the whole trip and childminding fees at double time from the time I have to leave my home til 8 am, then normal fees from 8 am. We'd then have the problem if anyone else then wanted to start earlier I would then have to move you even earlier or collect them too (which might not suit them).

b) collecting your child on our way to school - you'd have to live within walking distance because I wouldn't be able to get a pass to park at the school. Others who already drive to school might not have a problem going a bit further out of their way. But this might be too late a start for you.

Theres no opportunity to collect your child between 8 am and the school run because I can't rely on other minded children arriving promptly (have had 8 am arrivals arrive at 8:40 to give you an idea), sometimes I also have to fit a breakfast in, and some children need a bit of settling/chill time and it wouldn't be good for them to be bundled into the car straight away.

Thats just me though, I think the childminders who do pick ups are in the minority but the answer to your question is that some childminders do. You might be lucky to find someone with other minded children starting later in the day, or who lives very close by, or for whatever other reason is happy to include pickups in his/her service. Good luck [happy]

alibubbles · 03/02/2008 18:39

I would be happy to do it, as at the moment, I pick up all of my children as it suits me and their parents and it is a very convenient route. I can also pick up at the station as I drop my daughter for the 7.44

I also drop back in the evening as most of my parents are in the same workplace, and as long as other children are not in the car for too long.

BradfordMum · 03/02/2008 19:00

I also would be happy to do this. It's something ive done in the past nd it worked very well for both the family and myself.

As usual, you'll always get conflicting replies, so all you can do it ask each Childminder and see their response.

Good luck,

Sally x

ROSEgarden · 04/02/2008 09:47

Im with Mo, i wouldnt do this, i have my own dd to get ready and have drop offs scatterd all over place from 7.30 till 8.30 then we're off to school, throw into that somewhere a pick up by me..it just wouldnt work...howveer if you find a cm just starting out or with no children of her own to get ready, they may do it, but i dont think youll find that many im afraid

LoveMyGirls · 04/02/2008 12:11

I'd only do collections if I could pick up on my way to school (so either 8.30am or 9am) I do pick up 1 mindee at 9am at school gates at the moment and I did used to pick up another little boy but it had to be at times conveniant to myself and Iwould charge for the hours used so if I collected at 11 I'd charge from 10.30 because that's what time i'd have to start getting ready to come and get there etc and the same with charging until i got home.

ROSEgarden · 04/02/2008 13:03

Soory i just realised i DO do a collection..but tis not in contract bascially i drop dd and mindee off early on wed's and baby mindee meets me at school 8.15, but since dd has been able to join mindee at gym this day, im out by 8am so collect mindee as its on my way home..told mum i would prob do this each eek but not a given as i may have to stay with dd for some reason or if dd not at gym..doing it that way would be fine, but wouldnt do it if iwasnt on way home?

vInTaGeVioLeT · 04/02/2008 13:38

no i wouldn't do it but it doesn't hurt to ask!!

franyfroo · 04/02/2008 19:33

if i was driving every day then i would certainly do it. if i was walking and it was on my way i would also do it. good luck

Original poster

MummyHD · 05/02/2008 09:22

Hello ladies, thank you all so much for your responses - that has been really helpful to me. I will definitely ask when looking for a CM!

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