After-school childminder

sarahs999

Can anyone give me an idea of how much it will cost to have a childminder look after my son each day for an hour to two hours? She would pick him up from the gates and look after him until my DH could pick him up. Son starts school in September and am just trying to work out our budget.

pinkpig08

Hi, I know each chilminder varies, but mine charges £3 per hour - however, I think this is the lower end of the scale.

emlou2009

childminders in this area charge £3 a hour too. HTH

sarahs999

Thanks, that's really helpful. I imagine it might be a bit more where I am as I'm in London, but if I budget £5 an hour then hopefully it won't be too much of a shock...

Oh and another thing - do I have to pay them in out of term time too? It sounds odd but my son has beeen going to a childminder and I have to pay even if he is on holiday at home.

fluffyb

In London expect to pay anything from £3.50 - £6 and hour. Most will be around £4 an hour.

All childminders vary as to whether or not they charge a retainer during school holidays. You should not be asked to pay for all holidays, but anything from 2-6 weeks at either full or half pay is average and acceptable

Hope that helps

sarahs999

Thank you again.

gabyjane

Hi i am a childminder and charge £4 per hour, after school i charge per hour up till 6pm anything after is more..the minimum i do is 1 hour as not worth it tbh paperwork wise! I don't charge a retainer in the holidays as he wouldn't be classed as a younger child as such so doesn't take up a place. HTH.
Good luck x

alwaysonthego_2

I pay £3 per hour and don't pay a retainer.

sarahs999

gabyjane wrote: »

Hi i am a childminder and charge £4 per hour, after school i charge per hour up till 6pm anything after is more..the minimum i do is 1 hour as not worth it tbh paperwork wise! I don't charge a retainer in the holidays as he wouldn't be classed as a younger child as such so doesn't take up a place. HTH.
Good luck x

And are you flexible with your hours - for example, do you allow for the child being picked up earlier, sometimes a bit later and just charge accordingly? Not sure my DH could always get there in time as he's a teacher himself and so hs meetings etc some evenings. We'd really like to find someone who can just tot up what we've used at the end of teh week/month and charge us that way, rather than having to stick to a set amount.

jimexbox

sarahs999 wrote: »

Thanks, that's really helpful. I imagine it might be a bit more where I am as I'm in London, but if I budget £5 an hour then hopefully it won't be too much of a shock...

Oh and another thing - do I have to pay them in out of term time too? It sounds odd but my son has beeen going to a childminder and I have to pay even if he is on holiday at home.

The wife is a registered childminder and the going rate round here (South Bucks) is £5 per hour (minimum pro rata basis) before/after school. Slightly more than the normal rate as its only for an hour or two. I dont think she would charge a retainer during school holidays for just a school pick up. Though she definitely charges a retainer fee (half fee) for 'full time' children not attending during school holidays, which is certainly the norm. As is charging the full rate if the child attends pre-school or nursery during contracted hours.

Childminder's are running a business, not a charity. How would folk round here like it if they didn't know how much they were going to earn from week to week? That's why every childminder I know has a fixed contract, with specific hours which are payable whether their child attends or not. In advance I may add. Childminder's are usually more flexible with school pick ups, you will pay for the time you child is there. Although if you contract for 5 pick ups dont expect to pay for 3 one week, 4 the next and 2 the week after. I think my wife would help you out by saying charging a basic £25 per week, fixed (1 hr per day). Then whatever hours (or part thereof) which were chargeable as required.

chivers1977

My son will be going to school in Sept too and for us it will be much cheaper to use the afterschool club. School finishes at 3.15 and the childminders around here charge £10 for afterschool pick up. The AS club is £7.50 until 6-6.15pm. Have a look at http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ for actual prices where you live. I used to live in London and know that prices are very expensive!!