How shall I charge this mum ?

[Summerfruit]

Hi !

After my recent problems, I have found a mum who I really like and I feel she likes me too !!! The only thing is she needs 2 mornings a week but sometimes she will need 4 days. How do I charge to make it fair to her and to me ???

Full pay for 2 mornings and a retainer (half fee?) for the rest of the time. That way if she uses the days twice a month she's paid for the time she's used, if she never uses them you've still got income from the space?

Honestly don't know as it's a tricky one. Would you ever be able to fill it with a temp mindee? Is she taking up your under-1s space? How full or empty are you?

I have the space for 4 days, the child is 16 months old. Its giving me headache !

i would charge for the two mornings and still advertise your other 2 days but let mum know

she may (as i have had in the past) just used the 4 full days or she may decide to take her chance and just use her 2 mornings as requested

as it is you wont loose as you can have the child 2 mornings and its a bonus if mum needs you extra plus you can still advertise the other space

Thanks dmo, I think I'm going to do that ! Thank you

Why not give the parent the choice of these two options?
Dmo's option is best if she wants to minimise the cost and can make other arrangements if necessary for the additional days. So contract would be for 2 days only, she can book additional hours subject to your availability. You are then free to decline (you don't have to give a reason, might not just be if you're full but also if you have personal commitments or for whatever reason it just doesn't suit you that day) as the only days being saved for the sole use of the child are the 2 days stated on the contract.

If she wants the assurance of the other days being available as and when she needs them (except where you are on holiday, sick etc)then you need a contract like frakkinaround suggests, that states clearly what all the reserved time periods are and includes an agreement about the arrangement for her notifying you about the additional days as well as a daily retainer rate to compensate you towards the loss of income through saving the additional days for her.