Childcare charges - does this seem right

cutestkids

Here we go once again we have a thread where a couple of posters have to turn it into a slanging match that has little to do with the original question.

It really is no wonder that so many new posters never come back to threads when this is what happens.

MikeR71

My nursery just requires a one month notice if we want to take the kids away for holiday. If they are absent for a month or something, they just require a £100 deposit to keep their place for when they return.

On slightly a different issue, we tried both childminders and nurseries. We decided that nurseries are much better as they mingle with more children and the nursery is there to serve our children. On the other hand, childminders do their own thing and they just take the kids around with them. They don't necessarily concentrate on our kids.
The cost difference is not much either.

peachyprice

MeganKate wrote: »

I have no idea, but how can you know 2 days before that he is going to be ill?

As I said I am very dubious about this one, are you sure its not for hospital stays rather than illness? and if the illness went on for more than 48 hours, do you then not pay for the time after that?

Very odd!

Not odd at all.

Little Janey gets sent home from nursery with a tummy bug, if she's off for two days you still pay, if it goes over the two days you don't pay for the remainder of her time off sick.

What's so unbelievable about that, and why would MX5 bother lying about it.

thegirlintheattic

Very common. Although I know several CM around here who don't charge a retainer but then during the holidays they usually take on older children who don't need term-time cares.

zippybungle

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

If I was you OP, I would look for alternative childcare. I take it your children are school age and you just need someone to have them before or after school?

I would personally look for alternative childcare with a contract that you only pay during term time and not School Holidays. Or could you ask any family members, neighbours or friends to help you out. Are there any After School or Breakfast clubs in the area? You should be able to get a list of places from the council.

I don't think it's right for a childminder to charge a 'retainer' during the Holidays, that's just easy money to me, what she should be doing is advertising her services to parents who need childcare during the School Holidays and earning her money from that. Afterall, you don't get paid a 'retainer by your employer during the Holidays, instead your money will be pro rated over the year.

Childcare is too expensive in this country. I have had to reduce my working hours by 3 hours per week as I just can't afford the childcare anymore.

Zippy x

honeypop

MikeR71 wrote: »

We decided that nurseries are much better as they mingle with more children and the nursery is there to serve our children. On the other hand, childminders do their own thing and they just take the kids around with them. They don't necessarily concentrate on our kids.

You decided they are much better for you, not in general.

Where I am, the childminders don't do their own thing and take the kids round with them. They all have a structured day, very much like the nurseries do, and incorporate all of the early years stuff into the activities that they do. Do you mean the childminders go about their normal day like shopping etc and just take the kids with them? Of all the ones I visited, none did this.

MikeR71

honeypop wrote: »

You decided they are much better for you, not in general.

Where I am, the childminders don't do their own thing and take the kids round with them. They all have a structured day, very much like the nurseries do, and incorporate all of the early years stuff into the activities that they do. Do you mean the childminders go about their normal day like shopping etc and just take the kids with them? Of all the ones I visited, none did this.

Yes, that's what I mean. That's what our CM did. With the nursery at least we know where our kids are during the day.

weepingtree

now know the answer

Bitsy_Beans

MikeR71 wrote: »

My nursery just requires a one month notice if we want to take the kids away for holiday. If they are absent for a month or something, they just require a £100 deposit to keep their place for when they return.

On slightly a different issue, we tried both childminders and nurseries. We decided that nurseries are much better as they mingle with more children and the nursery is there to serve our children. On the other hand, childminders do their own thing and they just take the kids around with them. They don't necessarily concentrate on our kids.
The cost difference is not much either.

Thanks but when I was a CM I worked my @ss off fulfilling the EYFS requirement which ALL early years practitioners are required to do by law. I didn't drag kids round on all my errands, whilst small trips out like that can be a learning experience I spent much of my time organising activities for them to stimulate and extend their learning. Just like a nursery. There are some nurseries I know where the kids don't even have access to an outside space and are just left indoors all the time. Does that mean all nurseries are rubbish? No it means that there are good and bad in ALL jobs. Don't tar all CMs with the same brush.

And as others have said its common to charge a retainer. However those kids I had on term time contract didn't pay but it also meant if emergencies arose or plans changed I was not available to the parent to look after their child.

onlyroz

MikeR71 wrote: »

On slightly a different issue, we tried both childminders and nurseries. We decided that nurseries are much better as they mingle with more children and the nursery is there to serve our children. On the other hand, childminders do their own thing and they just take the kids around with them. They don't necessarily concentrate on our kids.
The cost difference is not much either.

This is not my experience of childminders.

I use both childminders and nurseries, and they have pros and cons, but I think that both can provide a wide range of stimulating activities for children of all ages.