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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Childminders retainer fees

9 replies

Chrysanthamum · 25/04/2009 20:17

Hello I have a good cm but will be off on mat leave from August until May. I hope to send my toddler to cm one day a week anyway. She has asked me for 50% of what I pay as a retainer fee, is this the going rate?

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Yurtgirl · 25/04/2009 20:28

Yes I think it is - could be wrong though!

holdingittogether · 25/04/2009 20:31

If you want to keep your days for when you return to work then you should expect to pay a retainer and 50% is reasonable. From her point of view it would be difficult to fill the spaces when she can only offer 9 months to someone. I have not had a parent go on maternity yet but have considered what I would do as one of my mums has hinted they want another child soon. They either continue to send child, maybe with reduced hours. Or they give up the place and hope that I will have a space/spaces when she wants to go back to work. Or charge a retainer to keep place and it would have to be atleast 50%. 9 months would be a long time to loose income tbh I'm not sure as a cm how I would manage. Will be interested to see what others do/think.

KatyMac · 25/04/2009 20:56

TBH I would really struggle to keep a space open for 9 months even at 50%

I don't think I would take a retainer.......unless it was at 75% or 90% maybe - unless I could get a short-term contract - not sure really

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SillyMillysMummy · 25/04/2009 21:50

I am with KatyMac, not sure I could afford to guarantee 9 months off even with 50%

looneytune · 25/04/2009 22:13

Same as Katymac I'm afraid, can't afford not to have my full income!

twinklytoes · 25/04/2009 23:20

as a mum I don't think it is worth a retainer for the rest of the time. How can you guarentee that there will be the additional space for the new baby in nine months? review contract, request the one day and then start hunting again when new baby is 6mths, unless you will be happy to have your children with two different childcarers. on the other hand, how old is your current dc? could they qualify for a nursery place or preschool and pay per session - will give you a couple of hours to breathe and rest and be with baby?

Original poster

Chrysanthamum · 26/04/2009 13:42

Well my cm has more or less guaranteed 2 places when I return to work. I see it from a cm's point of view and I'm v happy with the childcare so continuing it would mean peace of mind.
My middle child won't qualify for a funded nursery place until Jan 11 at least, even then with his DOB it might'nt be until the April 11 intake. On the other hand we'll be v stretched financially ourselves so I'm working out what we can afford to do.

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HSMM · 26/04/2009 19:59

If you are paying a retainer, you should also be able to use the space, if you want your older child to go out to play for a day while you have a rest, go shopping, or whatever. You would of course have to pay full fee for that day. Depends what is agreed.

mumnosbest · 26/04/2009 20:17

I think you can only charge a retainer if that space is available, so if she manages to fill her places she shouldn't be charging a retainer as well. However as the others have said, it'd be hard to fill a space only for 9 months and 50% isn't much of an income so you're getting a good deal

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