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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

do all childminders charge teachers for all their holidays?

53 replies

moocowme · 15/02/2008 20:41

i am just looking for a child minder for when i go back to work when ds is six months.

so far all the childminders i have contacted want to charge me for all of my holidays. is this normal considering i am a teacher?

is it possible to get one for term time only and then pay extra for when i need it?

OP posts:

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llareggub · 15/02/2008 20:51

You do get paid your normal salary during the holidays. Why should your childminder lose out? I have to pay my childminder during my holidays, why shouldn't teachers?

Confused...

KatyMac · 15/02/2008 20:56

Moocowme - you might find a childminder who will not chare you for the holidays (there are some on MN) But look at it this way - why would anyone choose to lose 25% of their income?

If you do find someone who charges for term-time only, it is likely to be because they can fill the space in the holidays so there won't be any extra hours available for you to need

hercules1 · 15/02/2008 20:57

Actually teachers don't get paid for the holidays. They are paid for a set number of hours (ha ha) they do in term time and this is then paid over 12 months.

hercules1 · 15/02/2008 20:58

In answer to the OP I used to pay my childminder half the money.

Heated · 15/02/2008 21:00

I have a teacher colleague with 2 dcs who shares a cm with her neighbour. She needs the cm in term time and the neighbour needs the cm for the school holidays - so they both pay just for the care they need. Don't know how common this is.

popsycal · 15/02/2008 21:02

i pay half im holidays

vInTaGeVioLeT · 15/02/2008 21:03

some c/m's do some don't - i didn't but like katymac said i lost out in holidays - 13 weeks with no pay is very hard - but you may be lucky i know some who only work term-time

eleanorsmum · 15/02/2008 21:05

I do offer term time only contracts escpecially forteachers children as my dh is a teacher so i don't wnat a house full when he is off and we get our quality time together!

where are you? can i help!

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2008 21:07

Moocowme - keep looking! there are minders out there that will do a term time only contract. I do, but that purely because, I know I have others that come holidays only. If I didn't have that income, I would certainly be charging a retainer for the holidays.

Original poster

moocowme · 15/02/2008 21:21

but i do not get paid for all my holidays. i work a lot of the time on contract and any holiday pay is built into this. if i will be having a period with little or no contract work then i would save for this time. this is what most self employed people do.

OP posts:

llareggub · 15/02/2008 21:28

Well, I am sorry to be unsympathetic, but that's life. If there are a shortage of childminders in your area then you'll probably struggle. Around here, childminders are struggling to fill their places so you'd probably be able to negotiate a compromise.

Personally I'd want to keep up the childcare through the longer holidays at least so it wouldn't be so unsettling for my DS so I'd get a break too.

pointydog · 15/02/2008 21:40

Yes you do get childminders who don't pay for the holidays because it quite suits them to have the holidays too, or to be quieter.

Afraid it just depends on the childminder, though, but it's not fair if you have to pay full whack. Lots work on a retainer basis where you maybe pay half.

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2008 21:43

From the cm point of view, the reason they charge you for time you're not using, is because they have a business to run. CM's can only have a maximum of 6 charges. So they have to have some guarantee that you are coming back after the holidays. It is a space that they cannot fill, because they are holding it open for you. If you suddenly decide during the holiday that you no longer need them and you haven't been paying them, then they are out of pocket and may have turned parents away on the strength of you coming back after the holidays iyswim.

llareggub · 15/02/2008 21:49

Absolutely, MML. I am not a childminder, but my son is cared for by one. She is fantastic, and I would much rather pay her a consistent amount throughout the year rather than half fees for holidays etc. Much fairer I think, after all, I get paid for my holidays.

cece · 15/02/2008 21:53

I am a teacher and over the years have used 4 different childminders. I have never had to pay for the school holidays - they usually have other children or their own that they mind during the holidays.

chocolateshoes · 15/02/2008 21:55

I know a few teachers who have managed to find child-minders who haven't charged during the summer holidays. One asked for a deposit to hold the place for the following September which seemed very fair. At DS's nursery we pay half price for holidays if we give 4 weeks notice. You'll need to research it. Can any of your colleagues advise?

Original poster

moocowme · 15/02/2008 22:00

none of my colleagues have young children. i am an older mother and just about all of them are older than me. they all still think all mothers should stay at home and look after their own children until they go to school.

not to worry as i am still looking and still have 8 weeks to go.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 15/02/2008 22:04

As I said, I AM a cm, but I don't need to charge during holidays, but why don't you see if you can negoiate a deal like llaroggub. Pay the same amount every month, regardless of whether you are there or not? That, afterall, is how you are paid, so at least you can budget accordingly.

vixma · 15/02/2008 22:29

I am a childminer and a pt TA so yes. If not you need to make this clear in the contract.

33kjs · 15/02/2008 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nooka · 15/02/2008 22:46

We terminated our contract prior to the summer holidays and then picked it back up again when school started again, running the risk of losing our space (we didn't). But we only have after school care, so a bit different I guess. It didn't feel at all reasonable to be paying £130 per week for six weeks care that wasn't even available. In the shorter holidays we use the childminder for the contracted hours but usually for a full day or two. It still works out at a very expensive option compared with day camp type activities though.

KatyMac · 15/02/2008 22:46

Well 33kjs - that's one reason I don't do term-time only anymore (apart from school age)

I think an hour a week is very small for your lo - how old is he

I would say 2 or 3 sessions each 2/3 hours long is probably useful (imo)

dramaqueen · 15/02/2008 22:46

I am a teacher and have never had to pay childminders in the holidays. They fill the holidays with after school children who need holiday cover. I am sure you will find one soon, so keep looking.

dmo · 15/02/2008 22:46

i dont charge in the school hols but for the younger children i think to send them for 1 day per week while your off is a great idea it gives the child a break and keeps a routine and lets you do shopping/ironing/cleaning meaning that your time with your own child is quiaty time

dmo · 15/02/2008 22:48

nooka why are the hrs not available?

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