OMG! Can this be right?

[QueenEagle]

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!!!!)

I know she has some part timers that fit round my children. My kids have been there for over a year now when she was relatively new to it, so luckily for me my needs were very easily met.

Still that is a lot of money in my book. But a job I could not do myself anymore so all credit to those that can, and give a top quality service.

as acm i charge higher rates for term tims only ,or school holidays only,that to be as a fair cover for holding a place could be for a full time child at least 44 weeks a year .
say child1 school term only £4.5 per hours for 6 hours per day=135£ per week*39 weeks=5265£
and half fee for 13 weeks=877.5£
all=6142.5£ per year

and other child full time=4£per hour10hours per day=200£ per week
200£ 44weeks=8800£

so childminder will lose at least 2657.5£ per year.per child,what about 2 children???

as acm i charge higher rates for term tims only ,or school holidays only,that to be as a fair cover for holding a place could be for a full time child at least 44 weeks a year .
say child1 school term only 4.5 pound per hours for 6 hours per day=135 per week*39 weeks=5265pound
and half fee for 13 weeks=877.5pound
all=6142.5 pound per year

and other child full time=4poundper hour10hours per day=200 pound per week
200 pound 44weeks=8800pound

so childminder will lose at least 2657.5pound per year.per child,what about 2 children???

I'm certainly not raking it in, I have ONE 4 yr old child paying £40.00 per week as well as my own child (not paid at all for him) so how does that make me well paid?

During the last 4 months I have had 2 lots of parents back out at the last moment, one had signed a contract, how do you think that makes me feel? I am now thinking of quitting childminding altogether due to a shortage of work in my area and trying to work in Surestart creches at £7.56 per hour. I would use a childminder for my lad, hopefully my friend whom I trust and he loves going to play at her house.

This whole EYFS and OFSTED registers thing, charging £100+ has more or less done it for me, there's no way I'll be able to afford what they are trying to implement on us. I have got (luckily) my NVQ level 3 Early Years, Care and Education so I am at least qualified to do those types of jobs. This is going to force alotmof cms out of a job we love and OFSTED/Government have ruined our job. This is how I feel.

Hello, In what area are you looking for?