What to do? If I take on this child I can't take anymore - not because of my numbers

[mumnosbest]

Apologies now if this becomes a long, rambling post!
I've been waiting a long time for any enquiries and now I've finally had one, mum is very interested. There are 2 siblings, the younger would be full-time, which is fine. The older would be wrap-around school care, which again would be fine as the times don't clash with local school. The problem is that the child would need to be driven to and from the school bus stop. Time wise I could theoretically take on another 2 B4/after school mindees, boosting my much needed income. However my car will be full (have my own 2 DC's as well).
So... do I
a) take them anyway.
b) take them but charge extra for the older child, due to restricting my remaining vacancies.
c) don't take them, loosing a full-time mindee too.
d) something else that I haven't thought of?
Mum's calling back tomorrow!!!

personally i would speak to the mum about this, explain that taking this child would restrict how many children you could take on, you are still happy to do it, howevr you will have to charge extra for the time the child is with you.

does that make sense? anyway thats what i would do hth

Yes that makes sense and is exactly what I thought, but being new to CM wasn't sure.
Thanks leonifay.
Hope you're filling your places, as you can see I may finally be able to fill mine

Could you afford a bigger car maybe a 7 seater.

Think its a difficult one, depends on your area and chances of filling your spaces anyway. I have taken a little girl 10am - 2pm one day a week, which obviously may restrict if someone needs f/t care. But i know that we are fairly over run with childminders here, far more than demand, so cm is a gamble for me anyways, any income is a bonus

Can you walk to the busstop?

Bus stop's too far away (15 min drive). I curse myself as far as the car situation goes. I nearly got a 7 seater last year but instead got a Picasso, so can't get a different car just yet. There doesn't seem to be much call for CM's at the mo, but I'd hate to have to say no to any B4/after school minding if it comes up. Having said that I can't afford to loose the full time younger sibling.
Thanks for all your advice so far though

Would you be having the older 1 full time in the school hols?
I charge £5 per hour for b4/afterschool mindees. £1.50 p/h more than the under 5's who come all day.

I think you need to weigh up

Younger child plus 1 OOS

Vs

2 OOS

I think the younger child is a better option - but you know your figures - what is happening in the holidays - is the older child FT too - how old is the older child will he be over 8 soon?

Hadn't thought about school hols, so yes he would be fulltime then, he's already 9. It would be silly to turn them down on the off chance I might get more after school children, especially as I've been waiting a while to fill my space. Also they come reccommended by another CM as good kids and parents are good payers. Think I will take them and save for a bigger car

So you could still have 2 School age in the holidays

Yes I could. So glad I asked now, hadn't thought of that either. This CM business is getting so confusing

I would take them on if it were me. A full time mindee is worth so much imo and to have the sibling means that it is one parent to deal with for both mindees. And surely you would have this problem anyway with taking on more the same amount of mindees from else where?

I would charge extra for the older one though, depending on what you already have said to charge and just explain why.

We got a 7 seater for exactly this reason. Trouble is I only have my DD and one mindee at the mo!

I could take on three b4/after school, if not for this one. There are 4 local schools all within walking distance. This child has to get a bus at 8:15 and returns at 4:15 so could easily make other pick ups but then I could't get them all in the car to collect him at the end of the day. If we were walking it wouldn't be a problem.
As you've all said, the most important one (financially speaking) is the full timer, so think I'll take them. Thanks for the advice. All helpful as always

Is there an after school club at the school, perhaps the mum would consider that?

I think I would prob take them, because of the full time mindee. Besides, too many after school mindees could be a bit of a headache, esp if you've been at it all day. They get v v lively after being cooped up at school all day! It would also be nice to have two from the same family, nice for mindees too. Not sure about the drive to the bus stop ... 15 mins, you would need to charge for fuel.

Thats the bit that puts me off but already discussed fuel and mum's fine with that. There's no after school club unfortunately.