Childcare charges - does this seem right

Wellgood

My work offers term time working so i could look after my 2 kids during the school holidays. However my childminder has said she would still charge a retainer (40%) for school holidays, as it is lost income to her. Does this seem like normal business practice? it seems to penalise teachers/people who can look after their kids during school holidays. However i also realise childminders have a business to run. Any thoughts much appreciated

Gigervamp

Yes, it's normal practice (I used to charge 50% as a retainer) as they're keeping a space open for your child when they could fill that vacancy with a full time child.

cutestkids

Yes this is normal 40% is actually quite good I know of some who charge 60%

They are keeping your childs place for you for when you need it where they could have a full time child in there

honeypop

Yes it's normal. However, you may find that a nursery will take your child term time only and not charge for the holidays, as they may run a holiday scheme where they can take children just for the holidays. Some near me do this.

janninew

I'm a school worker and the childminder i'm going to use doesn't work herself in the school holidays so doesn't charge a retainer, she mainly cares for term time workers children. I did see childminders when i was researching that charged a retainer so i think its quite normal.

tea_lover

Wellgood wrote: »

My work offers term time working so i could look after my 2 kids during the school holidays. However my childminder has said she would still charge a retainer (40%) for school holidays, as it is lost income to her. Does this seem like normal business practice? it seems to penalise teachers/people who can look after their kids during school holidays. However i also realise childminders have a business to run. Any thoughts much appreciated

Surely if anything it 'penalises' those who don't just work term-time as they pay 100%, not just 40%??

Gra76

We pay a 50% retainer, I'd snap our childminders hand off if she offered it at 40%.

martinsurrey

it might be worth looking for a term time childminder.

I know several who have children themselves and so dont work during school holidays (they mainly care for teachers children during the term).

If you can find one of them you wouldnt be paying a retainer at all.

MX5huggy

Our Nursery let's us have 4 weeks a year when we don't have to pay. 2 are at Christmas when they are closed and 10 days of our choice. If bumble does not go any other time we pay 100%. Unless he is ill then if we give 48 hours notice the we don't pay either but he does not give us notice of being ill or getting better.

MeganKate

MX5huggy wrote: »

Our Nursery let's us have 4 weeks a year when we don't have to pay. 2 are at Christmas when they are closed and 10 days of our choice. If bumble does not go any other time we pay 100%. Unless he is ill then if we give 48 hours notice the we don't pay either but he does not give us notice of being ill or getting better.

Thats a strange one? why dont you say he is ill 2 days before you go on holiday?

gingin_2

MeganKate wrote: »

Thats a strange one? why dont you say he is ill 2 days before you go on holiday?

Honesty and decency perhaps?