cm: how would you charge for this?

[jibbs]

I have beeen approached by a family that have two children - 6 (in full time school) and 4 (will be at nursery 9 - 12)

mum wants to drop off at 7.30 and pick up at 4.30

She sometimes needs me to have the children in the school holidays and sometimes doesn't (depending on her course)

The children would have breakfast here, the little one would have lunch here and then they would both have a snack but not tea (assuming mum is back in time)

Would you just charge before and after school/nursery and then extra for the holidays if they are required?

Would you charge a full day for the little one and again just before and after school for the bigger one again adding on extra days for the holidays?

Would you charge a retainer for the holidays or let the family know that there may not be a space in the holidays for a few days here and there if I am full?

I am working on £5 per hour per child. Would you get the family to make 12 equal payments or charge on a weekly basis?

Sorry for lots of questions - I just want to get everything right so everyone knows the score

Thank you

Okay this is how I do it for the schoolie I charge before and after (basically the hours they are here) for the nursery age child I do as follows, if we drop off at nursery and collect I charge all the way through. If we just collect I charge from point of collection. It would be almost impossible to find a mindee for the 3hrs.

If they want a Term Time only contract, I make it clear that we may not be able to provide holiday club care but will if we have space. I then charge day rate as extra for holiday club.

WRT regular invoicing I try to do mine over 52 wks if possible as this is easier to monitor from our end, the parents know each week what cost is and when I am off I still get an income. You could charge over the year for term time care then just do an invoice for the extra holiday club fees as and when used.

I would charge before/after school for school child and whole day for nursery child. I would make a term time only contract and then say I can care for them in the holidays if I have space. I have some parents who prefer to pay for the coming month and others who prefer to spread it evenly over the year.