Is it ok to charge parents extra if you have to use an assistant ?

[justnally]

My situation is this...

I have been asked to look after a baby on a Monday, Thursday and Friday. The mum wants me to look after him as I have been recommended and doesn't want to go anywhere else.

I already look after an older child part-time on two of those days, so in order to do this I will have to employ an assistant. I have the older one for 9.5 hours per week and will need the assistant for 5.5 hours, which will mean she will earn more than me...

Can I charge the new baby's mum more to cover the cost of the assistant? Would it be better to terminate the contract with the older child's mum? But.. he was here first!!

Isn't there something to do with the number of children and floor-space as well?

Doesn't sound like an assistant is the best way forward to be honest.

my business head says mind the child who pays more - wants the most hours

my soft side says it's not fair to ditch the exsisting mindee

i can't see the point of employing an assistant if you aren't making more money - can't you just swap the two mindees hours around? i'd try the variation

I got a variation before I started looking after one of my mindees.

As long as you show to Ofsted that you are able to look after their physical and emotional needs then they will probably say yes.

It is worth a try as an assitant doesn't sound like a good option to me.