After-school childminder

susancs

I manage an After School Club attached to one school in Hertfordshire and we currently charge £8 per session until 6pm. Parents sign a fixed contract for the days they child attend and fees remain payable if the child does not attend any regularly booked session to ensure that the place is kept open open for the child. The reason for this is that we have to pay rent, insurances, buy snack time food and resources in advance and pay staff, whether the child attends or not. Also we cannot keep a place open for a child who for example might be sick or on a school trip etc, on an unpaid basis when we could offer it to another child and receive fees. We also require that fees are paid in advance. We have a number of parents who are teachers using our club and most collect about 4.30pm. There are other clubs locally who offer school pick up from more than one school and they charge about £10 per session.

DaisyFlower

I'd also look into the option of an after school club.

Ours runs every day and is very cost effective, they provide a sandwich and fruit as well as the children gert hungry after school.

It always has cover for absent staff, no contract re notice etc. Its on the school premises which means children can still attend after school activity clubs and not miss out (some childminders wont collect from activity clubs). Clubs are more common as the children get older but at least I know DS has the option if they fall on a day I work.

There are set activities like baking etc but children can choose not to join and can either play/read etc.

Definately worth looking into.

Abbafan1972

I would definitely find out if there is an after school club running. I use one for my 2 kids, 2 days a week when I'm at work.

I pay £2.75 each for the morning session, drop them off at 7.30 and they have breakfast there. For the afternoon it's £5.50 each for the full session, but if they are picked up early, then it's £2.20 an hour. They get a snack on the afternoon as well.

They have lots of activities there, so they are never bored and when it's nice weather they have access to the school playground.

sarahs999

jimexbox wrote: »

. 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.

Well, those of us who are freelance or self-employed live exactly like that, actually. We don't expect anyone else to pay for our holidays, we have to work it into our rates.

But yes, I know that childminders who look after the kids full time expect that. My son's been going to one for three years. But it's good to know that I don't necessarily have to pay a retainer for after-school pickups.

sarahs999

There's no after-school club which I'm quite annoyed about as it's a big school with 90 pupil intake. There are two clubs that pick up from teh school but they are quite a walk and also there are lots of other schools there that sort of all get tossed in together; some of the schools I avoided when we were applying for places as they were a bit rough. I kind of prefer the childminder touch, if you can find a good one. If there were an after school club on the school premises we would definitely go for that.

jimexbox

sarahs999 wrote: »

Well, those of us who are freelance or self-employed live exactly like that, actually. We don't expect anyone else to pay for our holidays, we have to work it into our rates.

My wife earns £4 an hour. Considerably less than I or many folk get, and I get paid full pay for my holiday, not half, which is the retainer fee. So parents in my eyes are getting a bargain.

galvanizersbaby

jimexbox wrote: »

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.

I see your point - I personally wouldn't be able to budget without knowing I would earn a certain amount each week - though confused as one of the selling points I hear for childminders is that they were supposed to be more flexible than a nursery
Obviously differs from one childminder to another where as nurseries (I know from the one I used) are definately rigid.

jimexbox

At a nursery you would have to pay the full fee during the holidays, so you are saving immediately. If you are late picking a child up from nursery you will pay a late fee, not necessarily so with a childminder, although persistent lateness will incur a charge. With a nursery you drop you child off when they open, then pick them up from the nursery. My wife is flexible to pick up/drop off point, school, our home or their home occasionally if the circumastances warrant it.

galvanizersbaby

jimexbox wrote: »

At a nursery you would have to pay the full fee during the holidays, so you are saving immediately. If you are late picking a child up from nursery you will pay a late fee, not necessarily so with a childminder, although persistent lateness will incur a charge. With a nursery you drop you child off when they open, then pick them up from the nursery. My wife is flexible to pick up/drop off point, school, our home or their home occasionally if the circumastances warrant it.

I see so the flexibility is really with the drop off/picking up times and points.

Not that it makes any difference to me nowdays as mine attend after school club but I see so many threads re childminding it is interesting to know how it works.

sarahs999

Some childminders still charge full fee even in holidays. I know my current one does.