What is the going rate for childminders?

[SpringCrimboTurkey]

I'm returning to work in January and my SIL is looking after DD for 5 mornings a week - from 9am til 1pm.

What is acceptable to pay?

I don't want to cheat her out of anything but equally cannot afford to pay what a childminder would charge.
She doesn't work so would be grateful for anything but i want to be as fair as possible.

TIA x

Depends where you live of course.
I believe in London its around £4.50
Here in Leeds its anywhere between £2.90 and £3.50 an hour. HTH I would go for somewhere between the two if you can, or go for the lowest figure!

We are in Luton so not too far from London.
As i said, she is SIL so wouldn't expect me to pay the "going rate" but i want to try and be as fair as poss.

Yep, here in Coventry it's between £2.50 (an utter bargain for mine who is wonderful) and 3.50. I feel Imine doesn't charge enough, her job is so important, so I often turn up with some flowers and always bring pressies from holiday / christmas / birthday etc.

I don't want to be alarmist, but I hope you have an EXCELLENT relationship with your SIL? I know several friends who have had disagreements with the people looking after their kids, and some of those were friends who became childminders for their kid. Make sure the ground rules are all laid out in writing, and have a proper contract with terms about late pick up / holidays / illness etc. And if she isn't regeistered she'll need to be for insurance reasons. (I think)

Having said that, I pay £2.75 as my childminder has both my DDs. Why not go for £3.00.
Its true that you need to set out some ground rules though. After all, if you were using a registered childminder you would have to sign a contract.

(I just changed my name back from Turkiegirl)

I am in Surrey and the rate ranges between £5 and £7 per hour.

Do be careful the penalties for accepting money for looking after children when you aren't a registered childminder are very high (potentially for both parent and carer)

And if you go to a registered provider you might be entitled to up to 70% from the Tax credit people.......

i pay £2.60 per hour, learnt to use registered CM after non-registered childminder (supposed friend) tured out to be 'not very nice after all' and i get to claim back some of this from working famlies tax credit, which is a bonus

we pay £4.50 in w london

i pay £2 an hour for dd1 and when dd2 starts she will be £1 an hour. (siblings are half price). my childminder is the most wonderful person. dd1 adores her and because i have no family at all around here i just dont know what i would do without her. we call her saintmandy.

sorry that was a bit gushy, but she really is very cool!

I pay £3 per hour in West London, which in this area is a steal!

What's that with the possibly 70 via tax credit??? any URL's where I can find some info? Cheers {smile]

Hi Turkey,

If your sister-in-law is your dd's auntie you don't need to worry about if she's registered, cos she's family. There aren't any penalties for family looking after your children, so long as they are really family. ie not a sort of cousin eight times removed! However, you could get help from working families tax credit, for child care when using someone registered. I guess the question is, would you be better off paying less for SIL to do it, or getting help and using someone registered? I agree with what people are saying though, do be careful, even the best relationships can be put under strain when you are letting someone else look after your kids. So long as she is someone who listens to you and agrees with your ideas about parenting you should be ok. As for pay around luton i haven't got a clue. But you can contact your local town hall and ask to speak to the 'early years team'. They may have details of the "going rate" in your area. HTH. and good luck going back!

MrsBDAD. If you look \link{url\www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/HomeIR.aspx\here} (i hope that worked) it should help. How much help you get with childcare is worked out with your tax credit, so you'd get it together. If you click in the "do i qualify?" bit and fill in the form it will give you an estimate of the help you can get. HTH. Not sure if anyone else knows of anything better, as you need a bit of time on your hands to fill in the form! The Inland Revenue... They never do anything easily do they! .

PANTS! i knew that would happen! hang on....
\link{url\www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx\here}..
that SHOULD take you straight to the "do i qualify?".

Arrrgh! One last try... I think the link is too long and it doesn't like it... RIGHT. Last try!
\link{url\www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk\here}
you'll have to click in the Tax credits bit on the left hand side. Fingers crossed .

\link{url\www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk\here}

i give up! i think you can get the site from the info! LOL i think i need to go back to bed after that!

thanks, had a look, and how on earth am I supposed what exactly I earned LAST year?!... they like making it difficult don't they
Cheers, better get back to my winge battalion,

Look on your P60 (if you are employed)...Your accountant (if S/E)
However you can ring IR and ask them....they know

hmmm if they know... why tell them again ? then again different departments = no clue I know... I worked for the council LOL

ooooh Mrsbdad I wouldn't go annoucing that! You'll have snipers after you! That's like being a traffic warden! (just kidding! )

not worried... DH is a trained sniper so he can cover my back