Childminders: What do you charge for food?

[Picante]

Do you charge per meal or per day? Do you charge for snacks?

What would you charge for all three meals plus snacks?

i charge £1 each for breakfast and dinner, lunch and snacks are free

I'm a parent using a CM and I don't get charged for food. I would far rather it was scooped up in the hourly rate and that was set at a level to include healthy snacks and meals than having to pay for food seperately or to pay a nominal charge which may or may ot equate to the actual value of the food.

Currently my rate includes snacks and midday meal. I would charge extra though for evening meal - approx 1.50 depending on age of child (breakfast would be extra too)

parents send packed lunches

I include cost of snacks in hourly rate

I used to charge for meals (not snacks) but stopped and now charge the tax man instead

But if you have after-schoolers and are just providing a snack, why should you charge as much as an under 5 who has 3 meals with you?

Because it's in the HOURLY rate - after schoolers would be here for less hours.

I don't charge for food as mindee brings packed lunches. Will soon be providing all meals and snacks and will not charge them to parents.

I charge 50p per meal nothing for under 10 months, my rate includes snacks.

I used to charge separately for meals, but the invoices got really complicated, so I raised my hourly rate and now it includes everything.

I provide food free of charge.

I have never charged extra for food in the whole ten hyears of minding. Its a minefield - what do you do if one child eats more than another? What if the parent is late collecting and you do an unexpetced meal or snack? What if the parent is early and the child doesn't have a meal which has already been charged - if the minder charges in advance for fees?

I just include everything in my hourly rate. The parents then know exactly what they are paying.

My CM charges £1 per meal per child

i charge the same as a school dinner so £1.95.

I don't charge for lunch or snacks but if the parents want me to provide breakfast or dinner then I would cahrge or they can provide something if they prefer. But most of my parents only want lunch anyway.