Do I have to pay for food and what is the average cm fee?

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My childminder tells me she's spending a fortune on food for my kids. My 3 year old gets there at 930 and has a piece of toast. She usually gives him pasta for lunch then he goes to nursery for 2 and a half hours. She then picks him and his 5 year old brother up and gives them a small sandwich. I pick them up at 5 and give them dinner. She says she's having to buy fruit and yogurts for him and says it's costing her money.
Should I be providing their food and if so is it OK for her to heat up what I give her or should I give her raw food to cook. She says she shouldn't be cooking for them. Is that right?
I'm also paying her £4 an hour for the 3 year old and £5 an hour for the older one for after school, is this the average?

Hi, with regards to the fee's, it sounds about right, but it does depend on your area. I am in Surrey, and my fee's are £5 but it varies from £e4.50 - £5 in the area.

I don't expect that she is quite 'spending a fortune'. Did you discuss who would provide snacks when you did the contract?

If she is only giving them a sandwich why would she need to cook? Sorry a little confused there.
However, if she did need to give them hot food you should provide the food to be warmed. In my experience it is very rare to find a cm who actually cooks the food. Something like spag bol or stew that can be easily re-heated.
It's not that she 'shouldn't cook' as such, but she is self employed and she has the right to decide if she wants to or not iyswim?
I hope some of this helps you

A few childminders include meals in their fees, but many charge separately. I don't charge for snacks (which I only give afterschool) but I charge for breakfast £1.40, lunch £1.50 and dinner £2. I pay more than that on the groceries though! I do give parents the option of providing meals, but these need to be packed lunch, ready to eat.

Re-heating can cause problems not only for food hygiene reasons but also lack of hob/oven/microwave space where the cm has also to make her own and her families meals and those of other mindees. I have accepted cans of beans/soup and frozen home-made meals from parents but some childminders charge a preparation fee of around 5op-£1 for this.

Hi ! I'm a cm and I provide food, I cook for my mindees well for their dinners, most of the time, I give them sandwiches and veg and yogurth (unless weather is too cold and I insist on giving them something hot lunch and dinner)...Your cm exagerate a bit I think saying she's spending a fortune on food..but her fees seems to be ok...I'm in South west london and charge 55 pounds a day for 6 poinds an hour.

Thanks for your answers, they were helpful. Is it right that CM's can get the tax back on the food they do provide and if so how much, eg if they give a child a yoghurt costing 50p, how much can they claim back?

I think that I am going to move as average around here is £3-£4. I charge £3.50 and include lunch for the little ones, as well as snacks. Probably put the rates up after April.

Sorry, when I said it was rare to find a minder who cooks the food I had babies/toddlers in mind.
I cook for all of my kiddies age 3 and over and charge £2 a day for all food (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

They can claim back 10% from food NK62

I supply all meals for the children that are here at meal times, toddlers get the same as the older children as I add no salt and all food is home cooked. As soon as a baby is old enough to eat normal foods then i provide their meals too.

Breakfast is cereal and toast
fruit, yogurts, breadsticks and cream cheese for snacks
lunch is something hot (except for days at the park in summer when it may be cold pasta or sandwiches) and so is dinner.

I live in the London Borough of Bromley and charge £4 an hour for pre school children. The same for after school children but with a minimum 3 hour charge.

I work out how much I spend on food on an average basis and this amount is then tax deductable. Hope that helps.

Star I do the same, I dont charge for it as would rather put it on my expenses, and not pay tax.

When i eventually set up as a CM i'm going to be including meals in the £4 an hour fee.
But i'm not sure what to charge if someone wants to bring their own lunch. Suppose i could say it's lets say the day is 5 hours long then 5X4=£20 for the day minus £2 for meals.
Do you think that would be fair?

I charge the same weather they eat what I provide, or bring their own.

My hourly charge states inclusive of food, if they don't wish to use that facility that is up to them (although I have never had anybody not) that is their prerogative, but the charge is the same.

I charge £4 an hour, meals and snacks included. All meals are cooked by me - unless someone has a very unusual dietary requirement I couldn't manage (not happened so far)I would always feed all the children then they all have the same and there is no arguing about who has what in their lunchbox!

I cook all meals for my mindees, but they are ones that are easy to reheat, like pasta bol, soup, casserole and I include the cost in the fees. It does cost a bit and is a big effort but I think once my little one starts school it will be just mindees so will ask for packed lunches. All my questionaires have had great feed back but...
Only started minding last year and have had quibbles over holiday pay and a child leave with a non payment issue. So although some people really appreciate the extra effort some do take advantage

Ok panic...I thought we could claim all money spent on food back on tax not 10%
Someone tell me whats right here.

Skye

HMRC: Childminders Expenses

Doesn't mention 10%, not sure where that comes from. The HMRC manual says: "Food and drink - Reasonable estimates for the costs of food and drink provided for the children being cared for are acceptable and receipts will not be required."

I claim all cost of food, and I was auditted a few years ago, Taxman said i should be, I charge 1.50 for breakast 3.00 for a cooked meal and 75p for snacks per child as expenses.

I cook and provide meals and snacks for all mindees. I make it clear what I will provide when the children start. I also make it clear that I do not provide breakfast, or tea (because of the hours I work and because of school runs, etc). Your CM should make it clear what is included in the price and if these meals are included, then .... ???? What is she moaning about? If not ... then why is she providing them and not asking you to bring food (or charging for it)

Phew thanks for answering that one-blooming expensive so thats a lot of tax claim.

Hmm I thought that too HSMM. I have food provided written on contract (SCMA) so would need to sign new contracts for that change.

Hi Ive been minding for 8 years and was told by my small business adviser that the tax man would not question up to £5 per child per day for all food, snacks and drinks if a full time placement. I include all food in the daily fee for over 12 months old but ask for parents to supply baby food and formula. Its nice for the children to all eat together eating the same meal i think. Hope this helps!

My CM's recently been to a big meeting and she says she's the only one out of over 50 who provides food. I explained to her about claiming the tax back but to save any arguments I've decided to do the food myself now. It's a bit awkward as I work full time and do awkward shifts but I don't want her to think I'm taking advantage!We've used her for 3 years and the kids love her, she just finds it hard to communicate for some reason.

trouble is when you think about how much trust you put into cm's and how big a responsibility it is can you really quibble. I would provide packed lunch and then she wouldn't have any "problems". Around here it's £6 and even £7 nursery is a lot more of course.

myself and my friend work together and we charge 5.50ph, breakfast is included in the fee, lunch is 1.50 or a choice of bringing packed lunch and tea is given at 1.50 too. we are in surrey.