Settling period - What is your process ?

[Childminderindistress]

Dear all,

I hope you can help me on that one. I have been childminding for a couple of years now. Until recently, before starting properly with a child, I used to start by a couple of hours with the child buliding up to 3-4 hours then full day over a period of 3 days or 2 hours 1 day a week then 2 days a week until starting properly.

Now I have this mum whos is really anxious and want to have as much settling time with me. Her starting date is the 15th but now she wants it the 25th. We have decided on a plan for settling but now she changes the days and I cant have the little boy on that days as I'm full on these days. She is already sulking before even starting, I mean I'm really doing my best but its hard to deal with the random hours she wants over a period of 4 weeks.

Worst I think I have done a mistake on taking her on

Sounds like a bit of a pita, if your not getting a good feeling now before they have even started I would be quite hesitant to start the contract. It sounds like you may be heading for a load of problems.

Why has she changed settling in days that you have arranged? I would be very clear that the sessions offered were non-negotiable, she has to fit around you and your current mindees and your ratios etc.

She was difficult from the start, we are from different world...I'm going to have her for 4 weeks prior the start date, if she change the starting date than means I'm going to be losing money and not being able to have another child as she will take some hours...She was supposed to come today for 3 hours settling but my ds was sick with diarrheas as symptoms so I have followed the guidelines and I think she got pissed off with me hence her wanting to start later.

She gave a deposit covering 2 weeks.

bump

gosh you are very generous with settling in sessions. Can I ask do you charge for these sessions?

I generally offer 3/4 sessions - first visit with parent stop an hour
2nd visit - parent stops half hr and then goes of to the shop for half hour leaving child

3rd - child stops for up to an hour

4th visit child stops for a couple of hours

Ok I tailor it to each individual but thats really the max I am willing to offer, I am not a charity (don't charge for settling in) nor am I a freebie service.
I try to arrange hours thats are suitable to both parties but once they are agreed, thats it - non-negotiable, I cannot be chopping and changing on a whim, I have other children to care for.

I think if you are getting that feeling about the parent and she is messing you around already I would use the 4week settling in clause very cautiously and see how it goes.

I charge for settling in and the amount that I do is negotiated on an individual basis. I have never had anyone asking me to take their child on a day I would be over my numbers though ....

When I agree a start date, this is the date they start paying for full hours. It doesn't have to be when the parent starts/returns to work though. Just whatever we agree together. If the parents choose to attend fewer hours after the start date is past, then they still pay full hours because this is what we have agreed.

I offer the very first session of up to 2 hours, this gives us an idea of how challenging its going to be. I then suggest to the parent whether I think they need more 2 hour sessions or if I'm happy to move on to 3 or 4 hours. I give the parents a selection of days/times that I can care for their child each week and the parent books on a week by week basis, paying in advance. I prefer to do the settling in during the same days/times that the child will be coming to me regularly but this is not always possible, eg if they are starting as another child leaves. If the parent requests a date that I am not unavailable or doesn't sit well with my commitments that day then I say I'm sorry I can't do that day, and tell the parents which days/times they can choose instead.

"we are from different world"
"I think I make a mistake taking her on"

If you're hearing alarm bells already then consider ending the arrangement. If its not working satisfactorily now, there could be any number of difficulties ahead! I'd just write a standard letter thanking her for interest in your service but suggesting another setting may suit them better. Enclose her deposit and a list of other childminders.