Now I'm going to charge for extras!

[KateyCuckoo]

Up until now the funding has been a plus for me as a childminder. The rate for under twos has been plugging the gap for the underfunding for my 3 year olds meaning I haven't been charging anybody anything aside for additional hours at my normal rate.

I also provide a fully inclusive service, meals, snacks and nappies included. I felt this was easier for parents and I didn't have to worry if parents forgot. It was included in my rate before funding and I didn't want to change things for my families.

However this recent update from DfE to clamp down on overcharging has really pissed me off. Instead of tackling the offenders, usually big nursery chains who have complicated invoices and tariffs, they've basically accused us all of scamming and overcharging.

My CM friends and I didn't go in to childminding for the money, we know this isn't the path to riches! We're just trying to make enough money to pay our bills, feed out families and enough left over for a treat now and again.

Our funding in April goes up by 20p/hour. That's £3 a week. So really I'll make less money because all my (work) bills have gone up by more than that.

And I know things aren't easy for parents either. But I've had enough of being made out to be a greedy childcarer. If that's how we are being perceived then God knows I may as well start charging for these extras and be done with it.

So from April, parents will be charged for food and nappies or asked to provide. Im done. Oh and my family on UC won't be able to claim back this extra charge, they won't pay for food and consumables.

I hope the government are pleased with themselves. I've seen the posts on their DfE FB page. They look rather proud that they've tackled us on this. Well done.

I’m tired of people who think we are being greedy, we’re earning a high wage, we’re fleecing the system. What’s actually happening is we are being left to supplement other peoples childcare costs as the funding just isn’t enough. We are essentially expected to pay ourselves to look after the children because the funding just doesn’t stretch far enough. People seem to forget that our ratios are different to a nursery due to the 6 under 8 years. The funding was never built with childminders in mind.

the amount of people who have said ‘it’s not my problem funding isn’t enough, that’s down to the childminder/pre school/nursery to sort out’ is unreal. Why on earth should it be up to use to cover the shortfall?

our taxes, much like everyone else’s, pay into this system so in effect we are paying twice in order to look after other people’s children!

the extra that I ask isn’t easy to itemise on an invoice. It pays the shortfall which goes towards the overall costs such as training, utilities and fuel. It goes towards ensuring I’m at least working for minimum wage. If I have 3 x 3/4 year olds, once expenses have been taken off I’m working for less than minimum wage. It’s just not sustainable yet we are seen as greedy!

It's mad isn't it? I've spent the day restructuring my funding policy, I don't want to do this, it's more work for me and less convenient but honestly, I feel I have no choice.

This is all part if the long term plan we know Labour have to get all childcare in to state institutions and get rid of the private sector.

My LA is very concerned that childminders will switch to looking after under 3s only as the funding drops dramatically for 3-4 year olds. As you say the level of funding for each age group is more suited to large group settings like nurseries.
I can’t bring myself to ask for more money other than give the parents the option of providing their own food or paying me to provide lunch/snacks. I look after a few children that only come for their funded hours so I’m not able to charge a higher hourly rate outside of the 30 hours to prop up the hourly loss. All the activities like farms, zoo, soft play have increased their prices so much & most charge an entrance fee for 3+ so I’ve stopped taking them which is sad.
ive been childminding for over 20 years.

Im a childminder and I have now decided I can no longer afford to take 3-4 year old funding. I'd already cut it back from 30 to 15 hours but after this new guidance I'm pulling out from it. The rate is just too low.

@WhatILoved what do you think will happen to the 3 year olds, will they leave & go to nursery or stay with you? Maybe the long term plan is for all children to go to large scale daycare settings where the economies of scale mean the business owners can still make a profit from looking after 3-4 year olds.
I’m not sure the nurseries round here have any spaces so would feel bad for my families if I stopped accepting the funding.

I think that's the current plan then they'll do the same to the 2 yr olds and eventually the babies. I see the long-term plan for Labour is to do away with the PVI sector and have Cradle to Career care in state provisions only.

The government want all children to be in schools from 2 or earlier.

I imagine they'll all leave for nursery. Sometimes they'll do 4 days at nursery and one with me. I'd already cut my offering from 30 to 15 hours for 3 yo