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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

question about school hols...

21 replies

wohmum · 06/05/2008 00:41

Hi all,
I hope you can help me with this one but not sure if its something I can/should do.

my childminder is lovely - I have a 9 yr old and a 6 yr old with her. After school care is great and I feel i pay a fair price, however I will really struggle with payong (more or less) £90 per day for the 2 of them durign school hols. There is a local play scheme that only charges £35 per day for both which would be much more manageable. I can understand from her point of view that she needs a regular imcome, but I think that looking after a 9 yr old (and even the 6 yr old) is a lot easier than looking after a pre-schooler or a baby. she has 9yr old of her own who gets on great with mine so it's pretty easy. We pay extra for outings as, but food is included in the £45 a day each.

If this was you how would you feel if I suggested a lower daily rate or even just a term time arrangement?

I DO understand she has a business to run but will honestly struggle to pay £90 a day for 6 weeks!

Thoughts and suggestions welcome (and I'm fully expecting to be told I am BU)

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hana · 06/05/2008 00:46

I use my childminder term time only - it suits us both. I'd ask - nothing to lose

paros · 06/05/2008 00:47

I can see your point of view but I bet Cm dosnt .Best of luck .

Tortington · 06/05/2008 00:50

she's a business - she can either be accomodationg or lose the custom

there are always others

soapbox · 06/05/2008 00:51

I think it is just a question of what you can afford - if you can#t afford the childminder use the playscheme.

mymatemarmite · 06/05/2008 00:52

What hrs are the play scheme? Does the play scheme well and truly suit you?
Have you always used this CM?
Tell her what you are thinking?

PS Good luck!

WanderingTrolley · 06/05/2008 00:53

YANBU

If you can't afford the cm, you can't afford the cm. It's up to you how you spend your childcare budget. And the childcare scheme makes more sense.

She may be fine with it, she may get the arse. You can but put it to her.

Original poster

wohmum · 06/05/2008 00:56

WOw, thanks all, lots of replies so late at night!

i don't want to lose her for after school though, they are hapy there and she is lovely. I know she is fairly new to CM and takes advice from the older CMs who I expect wouldn't go for it.

will ask her this week and see what she thinks. gulp.

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Original poster

wohmum · 06/05/2008 00:57

Thanks again all - xposted with the last couple.

Are you all parents rather than CMs?

OP posts:

soapbox · 06/05/2008 00:58

I don't think that you have to lose her for after school though. Can't you just have her for afterschool, term time only?

WanderingTrolley · 06/05/2008 01:01

Used to be a cm.

She may well find a permanent child over the hols and not want yours back in September - like you say, she has a business.

What about playscheme for 3 days, cm for 2? Or similar? Enough so it's worth it for her to keep your dcs on over the summer, and doesn't bankrupt you. But be warned, she may have been counting on the summer money. Having said that, it's your prerogative to use her or not so she will understand that.

mymatemarmite · 06/05/2008 01:05

I am a parent but I do work with children and I have had a CM who I got on great with. We had a good understanding that term time was different than school holidays. It worked really well and she never charged because she only ever had my DDs during school hrs never after sch, so hopefully this could work for you although she may ask for a retainer to keep their places open during sch holidays. Would have thought even paying a retainer would be cheaper than paying £90 a day.

nooka · 06/05/2008 01:08

We gave ours notice at the end of the summer term and then picked her back up in September, running the risk that she would find someone else to look after. The trouble is that childminder rates in the holidays for school aged childen are just very high in comparison with the alternatives. The other option is to do a deal with her that you use the hours you would have had your childen with her (ie the afterschool hours) in a different way, so maybe just one week with her, or days spread though the holidays. That seemed to be OK with our childminder.

paros · 06/05/2008 01:09

Ive put this thread on my watch list so you must come back and tell us what she said .

wabbit · 06/05/2008 01:10

would she accept some kind of retainer for the holiday period? Can you claim any of your childcare costs through tax credits or anything?

eleanorsmum · 06/05/2008 07:14

you may find she's charging high in the hols as she doesn't really want to be full! I only really want term time as my dh is a teacher and we like the hols as a family. if i were your cm i'd be happy to pick the lo's up from the playscheme if it didn't finish in line with your work for example.

hope she's accomodating for you!

Original poster

wohmum · 07/05/2008 13:31

an update on thios for anyone watching....

i haven't had chance to speak to her and found out yesterday that I'm going to be made redundant! so may solve it for me - at least temporarily - but not sure whether give her notice now and chance may have vacancies if I anage to get another job!

ho hum, the challenges of being a workign mym.

on the upside, it;s a lovely day and I don't need to go in to work anymore apart for a meeting next week! looking forward to being able to dop and pick up the kids myself at least until the impending lack of money becomes a worry!

OP posts:

wabbit · 07/05/2008 14:35

wohmum... well that certainly does solve your problem!!

best wishes for finding the perfect job for you (maybe a little more flexible! )

mymatemarmite · 07/05/2008 23:04

Oh wohmum I am sorry for you. Lucky that you can take DC to school etc - enjoy! Hope you find a new job soon.

Original poster

wohmum · 07/05/2008 23:35

Thanks for the good wishes all - sorry for the appalling typing! have only just re-read it and can't believe the amount of typos.. best make sure my CV is proof-read!

I'm really going to enjoy the next week or 2!

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Original poster

wohmum · 09/05/2008 12:07

another update... I did speak to lovely cm

the deal round here seems to be that if you have a 'term time only contract' they will accept 1/2 the term time rate for the hols as a retainer... so termtime rate of £100 pw, becomes £50 pw for hols.

makes it more manageable so looks like a winner! btw she was very nice about it and i didn't feel awful for asking.

now to get back to job hunting...

OP posts:

Mum2Luke · 09/05/2008 13:39

I charge £20 for 3.5 yr old as I have him from 11.30am till picking up and £40 each for his brothers which takes me to £180, I take off £10 or them being siblings and its suits us all. In full time hols I charge £200 for the 3 of them(not each!) and this pays for meals, fuel for going out and for new toys. The only thing I ask parents to provide is spends when we go out to museums/ farms etc as they always have a gift shop.

£90 per day seems very steep, whats she providing for this? I think I would be using the playscheme if cms around here charged that and I was working out of the home.

Minee is asleep while I type this I may add!

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