Childminder costs - how does it work?

Welsh_girl_5

I admit this might sound a bit daft but I'm considering returning to work part time and have started to explore options - DS is 3 and currently attends pre school for 3 sessions a week (funded - just pay top up as session 3 hours). If I were to engage a childminder from say 8am till 1pm and DS attends pre school from 9.15 - 12.15 do I still pay the childminder for the time my son is at pre school? Plus my husbands company provide childcare vouchers would I be able to use these to pay the childminder? Sorry I have read as much as I can about all this but quite new to area and other mums I know all stay at home. Any advice gratefully received.

PS do not claim child tax credit - went down that path once - never again still paying back..!!!

june1970_2

hi, i am a childminder and i charge half fee while the child is at nursery if i am the one dropping off and picking up. As for the vouchers i am not a 100 % of as i have never had any.

getcarter

I used to childmind and also used to charge 1/2 fee as they took up another child place, I also used to accept childcare vouchers

CharleneUK

My childminder would only pay for what she worked, or rounded up to the nearest hour.

I miss her!!

busymumof3

Used to childmind when I only had one child, 5 years ago so. I would have come to an arrangement with the parent and come to an agreed rate whilst the child is at pre-school. Normally half the usual fee as already posted. The child has firstly to be taken to and from pre-school - an additional service. There is a very strict limit on the number of children a registered childminder can look after and that child is still taking up a place even if he/she is at pre-school. After all, if that child becomes ill at pre-school or needs to be picked up for another reason eg. adverse weather etc, the childminder will be called. They then have to be able to pick up that child, transporting all the other children they may be looking after, so effectively they are on call. Most parents respect this and don't see it as paying for nothing.

I think it would be very unusual to find a regitered childminder who did not charge for this time.

Welsh_girl_5

Thank you all - that makes very good sense as I didn't expect the childminder to do it for free as I realised they would as such be 'on call' now I just need to sort the voucher business out - does anyone know if the free sessions from the govt affect the voucher in any way?

Spendless

I really don't wish this to sound rude but I genuinely do not understand and hope someone can explain why fees are charged whilst the child is at nursery/pre school. The childminders round here charge full fees for this time. Children are being picked up and dropped off at the same building as when the child is in full-time school and a 4 year old in full-time school takes up a childminders limit in the same way a 4 year old at nursery does, and aren't they still 'on call' during this time? So why is one charged for and one not? .

OP_As to vouchers, several childminders round here accept them. As an alternative have you considered a private nursery, that way you would still get your 'free' bit and just pay top up fees with your vouchers (providing the nursery accept them).

Welsh_girl_5

Hi Spendless

Have considered a private nursery - and might still go down that route - only thing holding me back is that my son is extremly happy in the pre school which he started in January - suppose I'm just worried about confusing/disrupting him even more as he'll have to get used to me not being there! - think it will all depend on what hours/days etc that I work as it's likey I will need to travel for work so a nursery close to the work could be the best option.

Spendless

Welsh_girl wrote:

Hi Spendless

Have considered a private nursery - and might still go down that route - only thing holding me back is that my son is extremly happy in the pre school which he started in January - suppose I'm just worried about confusing/disrupting him even more as he'll have to get used to me not being there! - think it will all depend on what hours/days etc that I work as it's likey I will need to travel for work so a nursery close to the work could be the best option.

I had a similar thing my DD started pre-school in Sept and was also attending a private nursery 1 day a week, when I decided to go to college 3 days a week from Jan this year. The logistics just didn't work out and I removed DD from her places and put her in a new local nursery for the days I'm at college. I woried too cos she was happy enough where she was, she has however adapted really well and loves the new nursery.

I have a similar dilemma as my daughter is due in the school nursery in September, which means another college course that I'd like to do will possibly have to go on hold as it would also be a few full days a week. Doing it means she would have to remain at the private nursery and at the moment I just don't know which to do.

Hope it all works out for you.

troll35

Hi I'm also a childminder. Fee charging is something that is negotiable between the childminder and the parent . I personally would charge full rate for a child attending preschool if I was expected to take them and collect them and if I was the first port of call in an emergency (eg if it would take longer for a parent to get there etc). However I do not charge when I am on holiday or sick as the parent has then to make alternative childcare arrangements (I take 6 to 7 full weeks holiday). I know many childminders charge half rate during their holidays.

With regard to the vouchers, it is very easy for a childminder to register with the relevant voucher services in order for the parents to benefit from the tax break the vouchers give. I accept the Accor 'vouchers', I had to fill in a form with my bank details and send in a copy of my registration certificate. Payments are made online and it's all very easy.

Spendless you were wondering about 4 year olds in full time school. About 2 years ago when OFSTED took over registration and inspection of childminders they changed the ruling on ages of children. If a 4 year old is attending 10 sessions of school per week ie full time school, then they can be classed as a 5 year old and hence moved to the upper age group freeing up an under 5's place. This is why the fees for a 4 year old in school is different to a 4 year old in part time nursery/preschool.

Welsh girl, don't give up on the tax credits. You can phone their helpline and get advice by providing scenarios with your expected wages etc in order to see what your expected tax credit would be and if you are currently having to pay them back for their mistakes then your increased childcare fees should help wipe out the backlog quicker. (I know they're a right bunch of numpties, as says my sister, who works for the IR and had the same problem). One of my parents did this whilst she was on maternity to work out the feasibility of returning to work.

Good luck, Good childminders are worth their weight in gold and I weigh 10 stone!!

Spendless

troll35 wrote:

Spendless you were wondering about 4 year olds in full time school. About 2 years ago when OFSTED took over registration and inspection of childminders they changed the ruling on ages of children. If a 4 year old is attending 10 sessions of school per week ie full time school, then they can be classed as a 5 year old and hence moved to the upper age group freeing up an under 5's place. This is why the fees for a 4 year old in school is different to a 4 year old in part time nursery/preschool.

Thanks. That makes sense now you've explained it. Another question is I understand now when a child attends morning pre-school/nursery that the time is charged for,as it is taking up a place but what about when a child goes to an afternoon session? Here the PM sessions are from 1pm-3.30pm. What if the mum collects the child at 3.30 and is also the first port of call should anyone be needed during the times the child is at nursery. I understand that the childminder is making a seperate trip at 1pm and should charge for that, but someone I know charges till 3.30. I don't really understand why as if the under 5 year old was being picked up by mum from the childminders house at 1pm there would be no further charge after this time or would there?
Again I've no wish to sound rude I genuinely don't understand