cm, how many weeks holiday do you take ayear?

[Hayleycm]

not sure whats average, i got a holiday in may and wanted a week on in the summer hols my fella is off work and its my daughters birthday, and a week over xmas and new year/

Varies ... I tell new parents I normally take 'about 4 weeks'. (and I normally do that) Money is tight this year, so I might take less.

same here but wanted some family time as i work school hols too, will see how it goes, thanks for your reply

4 weeks.

4 weeks at least here, maybe more but always with about 3-4months notice of anything over that 4 weeks.

Very important to have your holidays, don't be a martyr and work through the year, it burns you out (I did this my first year and for little thanks too )

i think ill get this holiday in may over with and then i have two weeks in easter and i can take either off, so to lessen the blow the parents can choose what week would suit them best, maybe another in november to match my partners and the one over new year, i look forward to my lie ins :D

Usually 4 weeks and a couple of odd days to see my own kids school plays/sports days etc. some take 6 weeks i noticed.

I say upto 4 weeks, but this year im only taking 2 and have 1 odd day booked off.

yy take as much as you can

like Avada I took v little to begin with and worked my self into the ground

For the first time I am having time off in the school summer hols - in past years I have worked through but I fancied a change this year

I also have a week booked off in June and Oct half term too

Plus a fortnight over Xmas

I say 4 weeks but also make that clear it's 20 days (i.e. people who come one day a week may think that's 4 days in total but I may want some long weekends. I do, however, have a note in the contract that because I give so much notice (I tell them at the end of one year what I'm taking for the whole of the next year) so they can forward plan, that things may come up and I may need odd extra days, I say that I will give at least a month notice for these extra days. I'm glad I added this bit as this year I've already gone up to 24/25 days because needed extra days off for hospital appointments for myself plus for my dh's operation coming up.

I agree about making sure you get holidays. I started childminding with lots of children and didn't take any holiday for the first year (well, had 1 day!). I was totally burnt out. No parents were pleased that I hadn't taken holiday, I only did it as needed the money. Now I am paid a set amount per month for most parents and this has my holidays and bank holidays deducted. It means I don't have a big loss of income when I'm off (I was never very good at putting money aside to cover these!)

3 weeks, 2 in the summer holidays and 1 between xmas and new year.

Even though I give out ALL the holiday dates out at the beggining of the year, so they get 6-12months notice, they still moan that I'm taking time off!!!

Usually say 4 weeks, which was, May and October Half Term, and 22nd December-3rd January, because DH worked all summer.

Last year I worked October Half Term as we were going away for Christmas, but it was to long without a break, and burnt myself out, ended being very ill with Swine Flu and pneumonia, and having to take most of November off ill.

Now he has changed his job, this year is a bit different, so have had a week in February already that dosnt count (just happened taht all my families booked half term off!!!! Bonus)

Have been off since Tuesday again all the children had booked the same two weeks off, which was brill as we moved this week, other child went to another CM after school(should have moved in May, so worked in really well, only got one 5 year old for two days next week!)

Am having a long week end first week in MAy, (when we should have moved, but still having the long weekend) a week off in August,

Then probably not anytime till Christmas.

yy I agree the slog between Aug and Xmas is very hard

I usually take around 4 weeks or so. A few days over easter (not this year due to lack of funds) a few days at whitsun (again ditto), two weeks during August plus a couple of days at BH ( have school age children of my own so have little choice about that one) and a week at christmas.

week at easter, 2 weeks in summer hols and always between xmas and new year - not negotiable! Did the same as a lot of other new cms in my 1st year, only took 1 week and was toootally burned out .