Would you do it?

[SillyMillysMummy]

I have had an enquiry ( I have no mindees at the moment) from someone who may be looking for care for 2 preschoolers, 4 days a week, probably 2-5.30. Fantastic i thought at first, but then it occured to me that i wouldnt be able to take any full timers if i took those on. However, times are hard at the moment, what if i never get any ft enquiries what would you do?

I would take it. You are allowed 3 under 5 so may still have space for one full timer. If you were over subscribed you could pick and choose but with no mindees and needing the money I'd say take it. How old are they? Would either of them be starting school september? You could also take them and charge them for the whole day as they are taking an whole under 5 place. I know a cm who has a daily rate of x amount regardless of how many hours you are with her. HTH

I would do as popperdoodles suggests, with the variant that you will take the two pre-schoolers for the hours proposed at whatever your hourly rate it, but that, if you get offered other mindees for a full-time place, you will have to either up the price to a full-day price for the first two children or they will have to leave to make places for full-time children.

That seems fair and reasonable to me...

Yes i agree with both (my dd starts ft school september so would leave a ft place open then) Problem is, I think that there are enough cm in the area that would only charge for the hours used, i think if i mention the uping of the price because of a ft mindee i would scare them off. I dont think charging for a full day even though only part taken up is going to be an option either. I did think of stating that they could have a part time 'session' as nurserys do, but again I think that in this area, in this financial climate, beggars cant be choosers

Take them, but keep the notice period short on the contract - then if the arrangement does not work out, you can terminate it quite quickly. The short notice period works both ways of course, so if the parent feels it's not working for any reason, they can also terminate quickly.
Therefore... it gives you some income now and if you find that you are getting full-time enquiries, you can then review the situation.

weeeelllllllll

mum turned up on my doorstep this afternoon (whilst I was in full post xmas clearout mode, house a mess, dd covered in chocolate and cbeebies blastng ) and long story short, wants me to have her 2 dd's for 20 hours a week each, different to what she thought this morning, is actually 2 days 9-4 and 2 days 1-4

happy bunny

oh and HAPPY BIRTYHDAY nannynick

That sounds good! Def take them! I am looking for mindees at the mo but only getting enquiries for under 1's, which I can't have because I have a baby due in April! It is so frustrating!

ok well back to square one was all sorted but mum rang today saying due to op she had been waiting for, not now going back to work for 4-6 weeks

i give up

sometimes its just too hard