CM Club: Advtertising ad-hoc care??

[KatyMac]

OK so I am going to put up a card in the Post office with

"Short-term and Ad-hoc childcare spaces at childminding@wc

We have some childcare spaces available at wc. These are short term, ad-hoc or term-time only spaces and are ideal for when you have want to have your hair done or need to go to the gym or have a doctors/hospital appointment.

Currently we have
Mon-Thurs
9 -11.30am One off £10 Regular Booking £9.50
Mon-Wed
1-3pm One off £8 Regular Booking £7.50

We occasionally have longer sessions on an ad-hoc/one off basis (prices on application)."

Any thoughts opinions or suggestions - do you think I'll get an business?

As a parent I can say that it's definitely something that I'd be interested in.

Would it be worth putting an advert in your local NCT newsletter/magazine?

Really?

Just for one-offs?

& does the price not put you off?

Don't think the NCT is round here much

I would definitely use it for one offs or a regular break.

I can't really comment on the price because I don't know what your normal rates are - in this area £5.50 or £6/hour for childminding is about the norm so I'd expect to pay £6/hour or a little bit more for ad hoc care.

Gulp - normal is about £3 an hour here - so it is expensive

You wouldn't mind that they were such short sessions?

I wouldn't mind if I lived close enough. Personally, I'd use it as somewhere for my son to go while DD is at nursery, to give me a couple of hours to get some jobs done/get my haircut, etc.

But, I do have some disposable income for that sort of thing at the moment, and I realise that childcare for most SAHMs is a bit of a luxury, and I'm sure it depends on the area.

There is a nursery not too far from here that does ad hoc care, but it's that bit too far away to make it worthwhile for me to use.

KatyMac - I have just started advertising for CM ad hoc vacancies. I have just got organised for minding again after moving house and don't want to take on permanent mindees because I am planning another baby. I would hate for parents to think that they had found a permenant solution for their childcare only to have to stop in a few months time if I manage to get pregnant.

Anyway, I am charging on a scale depending on how much notice they give me (less than 48 hours being the cut off point) and how many hours they book in advance. I will be charging between £5-8 per hour with a minimum booking of £20. I only put out my fliers etc 10 days ago or so, and have had a few enquiries, but none of them have turned into work yet....

That's interesting

This is for when I have space because I'm already working (iyswim) so I can do short notice - but I think I will want payment up front

How are you dealing with contracts?

I would happily pay that. I don't have much disposable income but this woudl be a godsend,. I have a filling that needs replacing and has done for 6 months but can't get an appointment when DH is off!

I was going to start working as a childminder many moons ago so I know this is expensive but woudl still pay it.

Thanks

I do hope it goes well

I am producing a fee and booking sheet at the moment which parents will sign instead of a contract. It will set out all the fees and I am going to ask for 50% at the time of booking to secure the place, with the balance payable on the first day. No refund if they cancel, full refund if I cancel and of course I would only be cancelling in an emergency. LOl sounds really complicated. Maybe that;s why I've not got any clients yet!!

What about the child record form? (Isn't that info a legal requirement?)

Yes, they would also have to complete my "information about your child" form, as well as a parental consent form and signing an acceptance of my policies and procedures. Quite a lot of paperwork for a one off which is why I charge more for fewer hours booked IYSWIM.

I would keep an advert as simple as possible.
So pick just one price and stick with that, after all if someone booked two slots, then is that a regular booking?
Keep it simple... and market test for pricing. You could change the advert every week, every other week, once a month etc - different pricing each time. Also different areas may make a difference - use the map facility at www.houseprices.co.uk to see which areas locally are more expensive housing wise. www.upmystreet.com will give ACORN data which can also be useful for targeting advertising (generally the lower the number, the more affluent).

A revised advert suggestion:

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Ad-hoc childcare at childminding@wc
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We have some ad-hoc childcare spaces available at wc.
Ideal for when you:

• get your hair done
• go to the gym
• have a doctors appointment
• need some child-free time

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
9am - 11.30am £10

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
1pm - 3pm £8

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Book Now: Call KatyMac on 000000
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