Mindee's Dad has new job as teacher-What Fee's should I charge over school hols?

[MaNa1]

Help please, I really need advice!

I have been looking after siblings for 4yrs, 4 days a week.
Early this year their dad got a new job as a teacher-therefore he now has an average of 13 WEEKS holiday a year!!!

When this changed, we re did the contracts to 5 days a week and half pay in the holidays for both the boys.

My problem is: The eldest is in school, previously in the holidays I got more money as I had him all day. The issue is now that I am losing even more money as the parents are only paying me half pay of his term time pay-not holiday pay i.e £8 a day not £20.

I know technically I am getting £8 a day for not having him but...I didn't change this!

I have taken a huge pay cut to accomodate these changes...what would you do!?

Why did you agree to half pay in the holidays? The space is "blocked" so the parents should be paying full whack, even if they don't use it.

It is just too comfortable for parents to use CMs flexibly...(parents needs)

If you won't be having the children can't you advertise the places as available for others. Surely some parents need school holidays cover only.

Could you line up some holidays only clients then approach the parents of your existing mindees and explain that you need the money at £20 a day so will have to have other children durign the holidays, but obviously won't be charging them £8 a day as you won't be available to them for those days.

Could you advertise for a school holiday only place? I know of a few people in need of such childcare and they really struggle to find it.

I don't think there is much you can do about it. If you agreed half pay with them then I don't think for a school aged child you can expect half of a full day only half of the hours that you normally use...

thats childminding! you are always losing children
just pretend you have lost the children and have got a new child term time only

can you advertise for a holiday child only?

I know some childminders who for this coming Sept are planning to change things such that they won't take on an after-schooler unless the parents commit to paying for 2 full days childcare each week during school holidays.
It's your business, you call the shots. So nothing stopping you giving notice of your intention to change the contract... either the parents agree to the change, or they don't and have to find someone else to care for their children.

Can't quite figure out your pricing... what do you mean by "paying me half pay of this term time pay"? Do you mean they are only paying half what they should be paying, during term-time (so at the moment)?
If the children don't come to you for some reason during term-time, then that is surely full-pay. If they don't come during the holidays, then half-pay retainer is due, under your current agreement. £8 isn't half of £20, so I'm getting confused.