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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

OMG! Can this be right?

30 replies

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:08

I require a minder for holidays only (half terms, summer, easter and xmas holidays). Due to my shift pattern I would need between 2 and 5 days per week. I also require occasional Saturdays throughout term time as well as the hols.

I completely understand a retainer for the whole week where I would use only 2 or 3 of the 5 days. But.....

Is it the norm for a minder to charge a retainer for term time weeks even though a child is not looked after by them during these times?

I cannot understand this - even if she charged me only half fee, that would mean I would be expected to pay out £400 - £500 per months for childcare I would not even use!!!

Can anyone clarify this for me? I have e-mailed her back and I expect she will get back to me (she sounds very good on paper, but I thought I would ask the wise world of mumsnet (from whcih I have been absent for a long time!!!!)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:10

For under 5's yes

For over 5's not normally in my area though i have heard of it in London

Original poster

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:15

Hmmmm....my boys are 5 and 3.

I cannot understand that once a child goes to full time school they would still charge for them.

The 3 y.o. hmm maybe at a push I guess. What would I expect to be charged do ya reckon?

I currently have a minder who charges me only for holidays. I am considering moving becaue my 3 year old really does not like her and his behaviour has gone downhill lately. In case you were wondering, it is my minder who has the problem, not my son.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:19

I am a childminder
I have 3 under 5 spaces
why would I choose to sell one space for 1/4 of the money I could sell it for?

I probably wouldn't take you on I'm afraid unless you could find me another child to 'space share' (like a teachers child - but there could be a comflict for teacher training days - are they holiday or term-time)

Sorry to be such a mean cow - but I tell it how it is (for me)

5yo is different

smeeinit · 09/02/2008 23:19

it is normal practice queeneagle, i would charge half fees to keep the place open. although that said i proberly wouldnt take a holiday only child as it would be taking up a full time space.

vInTaGeVioLeT · 09/02/2008 23:22

maybe you should try some more minders -
i know some who have different kids term-time and school hols so no retainer would be required in this case

Original poster

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:27

Is it not down to the minder to find other children? I thought childcare was about choice for the parent. Lots of parents must be being ripped off. Minders must be absolutely raking it in.

I am definitely in the wrong job!

OP posts:

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:30

Not necessarily you would need to present me with a package or I'd just say no thanks

I think a lot of minder would - it's not a good deal

Mind you if I already had a term-time only child I might consider it - but I generally say no to them too (as I can't afford them)

Original poster

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:33

Ok, I understand you need to make your living.

So if a minder had term time only kids not requiring holiday cover, I would have more luck?

They must be out there somewhere! I have sent lots of e-mails so should get lucky.

Am also trying day nurseries - would they laugh at me then if I asked for holiday cover only?

OP posts:

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:36

Yes for the TT only - but do watch the teacher training days as both of you would need those days

Can't 3yo stay at the nursery I presume s/he's at?

Nurseries might do it - worth an ask

JeremyVile · 09/02/2008 23:36

Queen Eagle - I absolutely DEMAND to know what hapened with the CM over the mattress!

Tommy · 09/02/2008 23:38

DS3 starts at (day care) nursery after half term and he is only doing term time. If they do only term time then you might well find that they could offer a school holidays option

elkiedee · 09/02/2008 23:40

I know a council nursery near me that says they can offer some holiday places. Perhaps looking for a minder share with a teacher would be an answer, surely you could work out some solution for training days.

Original poster

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:41

LOL!! You remember?!! (It's good to come back and see what's going on )

I took it home with me, scrubbed it with a stiff brush and washing powder solution - guess what? The shit flew right off! I don't think she even tried to clean it. I took it back with me the next day and said it has come up beautifully, then left it with her before she could argue!

This is the same minder that my son is having probs with, she can be a bit stern. Even playgroup said they can see why my son has a problem with her when she dropped him off he was having a right old tantrum, then became his usual calm and placid self once he walked through their doors. He only has a problem with her, he loves the other minder (2 work together) and problesm only arise when stern one is alone with him.

OP posts:

Original poster

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:44

I have e-mailed a day nursery who do holiday clubs to see what they can offer.

I guess I was a bit naive to think it would be easy. And it is all so stressful knowing things are not right with your minder when you really need to concentrate on work.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:49

I'm sorry I was so harsh - but we have a capped income & can only charge what the market will hold. I started off being generous with stuff like that but have had to stop

I work my arse off this year & I have yet to break even (April 07-08)

If I'm full & If I don't have to close (for illness or like when we had the flood in October) I just about make £3.50 to £4 an hour

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 00:03

in my area all childminders seem to do things differently - some charge only when child comes - some have full paid holidays - some only take term-time etc etc

if you're not happy with what c/m wants to charge shop around!!!

i've been too soft with some parents and it means i lose out -
i normally earn approx. £4p/h i work 32 hrs p/w at the moment

i'm definately not raking it in

nannynick · 10/02/2008 00:15

If you only need childcare during school holidays, then consider:
Holiday Playschemes (some will take children from age 3)
Temp Nannies
Students
The occasional Saturdays may be an issue, but again Students and Nannies may be able help out.

ThePrisoner · 10/02/2008 02:31

For what it's worth, I will do term-time only and holiday-only contracts for any ages, and I know other minders who will do the same. If I have places available, I will do ad hoc care as well (odd days during the holidays, for instance). It's a case of contacting minders, and finding out.

Katymac - do you pay yourself a salary from your income, I don't understand how you can survive if you make so little? (Hope that didn't sound rude!)

looneytune · 10/02/2008 08:04

QueenEagle - I remember your thread and how appauling your childminder is and not at all surprised you are looking elsewhere!!!!

As a childminder I'm afraid it would depend on who I have atm. I do have a Term Time only mindee so would be happy to do school holiday only care HOWEVER there are certain areas who just don't get the calls for Term Time only care (i.e. I struggle to get holiday only enquiries) and if that's the case, they'd be VERY out of pocket and their business would suffer without charging a retainer. I can see how you wouldn't want to pay lots of money for a space you're not using but it certainly doesn't mean the childminder is raking it in.

I hope you find someone suitable

Original poster

QueenEagle · 10/02/2008 11:28

Well, when you consider that I pay around £400 on average per month for my children to be looked after only part time and the minder has at least 10 children in her care (she works in partnership with anothe minder to be able to have more kids) then she is bringing in far in excess of £4,000 per month to split between the 2 of them. That's an at least figure.

That in my book is a very well paid job that enables her to stay at home too.

Anyway.....I have had some replies plus I have contacted a couple of local day nurseries for info...so fingers crossed.

looneytune....there have been a few little things that I have thought a little odd about her but on the whole she has been very good. But I guess the saving grace for her has been the fact that my son loves the other one she works in partnership with. But it has become more of a problem for him and I am seeing her in a different light now...so time to change.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 10/02/2008 11:51

Nope - that's why we are opening the nursery

We do struggle to make ends meet - DH has a pension but if both of us were healthy we would earn more

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 12:05

queeneagle - surely the minders don't have 10 mindees all day every day - generally you are only registered for 3 under 5 at a time - just because there are 2 of them doesn't mean they're allowed 6 under 5 - so if she had 3 under 5 at £3 p/h she only be gettin £9 p/h for the bulk of the day - childminding is very hard work £9 p/h is not well paid really is it?

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 12:08

yes come school holidays - c/m's can make good money but it's bloody hard work - i'm reg. for 5 under 8 so i could earn approx £15 p/h . . . . .

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 12:09

plus there are lots of expenses / wear and tear / etc etc

seb1 · 10/02/2008 12:18

Queeneagle to take on your kids a childminder would have give up one full time under 5 place term time at say (£135 per week) and 1 after school place term time at say (£60 per week) for the school year 39 weeks that is £7605 they would lose during term time, not something many businesses can afford.

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