After school childminder dilemma???

[chubbleigh]

I have found a childminder for my son for three afternoons a week after school, she is just starting up and is keen to do after school primarily. She is only offering a full-time contract not term-time-only. Is this usual? I know it is better for her to create a stable income but on the other hand if you concentrate on after school childminding aren't you effectively taking a term-time-only job?

Thoughts please.

I'm a childminder, I offer afterschool care and holiday cover, I assume you work term time only if you don't want care in the holidays?

I think I would offer term time only but charge for 5 sessions rather than just the 3 because it's doubtful I could fill the other 2 days and your child would be taking up 1 of my afterschool places that way I could advertise a holiday only contract to parents who would usually use the kids club or friends and family during term time. If you wanted 3 days a week and holiday cover I would just charge for the days you used but put a minimum charge per week in the contract so that you would at least have to pay me as much as you would on a normal week iyswim?

Because childminders only have limited spaces and often have their own children they are limited with the income they can earn so to have a child using a space that could have be taken by some someone wanting 5 afternoons and holiday cover it's a big drop to agree to just 3 afternoons and no holiday cover.

I have before & after school children on my books & only a few come in the holidays with the rest being term time only. I prefer not to have the older children (well too many of them ) in the holidays so my current children fit in well. As she is offering school age only I suspect that she is expecting to probably have them full time in the holidays & therefore getting a boost to her pay then. I would go back to her & state that you only want to use her in the holidays but would be prepared to pay a half fee (at term time rates) retainer for the holidays to keep his place open. This is fairly standard practice.

I charge a 33% retainer for people that use me for after school but do not need me in the holidays.

I offer term time only contracts but charge a slightly higher hourly rate than others around me. I don't charge retainers for the holidays and it works well for me and parents. Either look elsewhere or if it suits perhaps offer her a bit extra for a term time contract only.
I would also ask her if she wants him full time in the hols as if she doesn't want to do holidays she can hardly charge a retainer.

What I am getting from this is that childminders might charge me a bit more for term time only, or charge me a retainer but generally not charge all year round.

I don't need that much holiday cover as between me working p/t, his dad (we are not together) and family/friends holidays are pretty much covered anyway. If I did need holiday minding it would be all day and not just 3-5.30 and I don't think she is necessarily offering that either.