child minder query

Quietgirl

The amount i pay my child minder week is the full year taken into account as in school holidays, teacher training days, saturdays and a normal school week. I just pay the same flat rate week in week out. It works for us. I pay her when she s sick if i don't have find other paid care. I pay her for holidays depending on if i have to pay for other care. I consider it good money as my child is happy and its like having a second family and were both flexible with each other.

mutley74

thanks for replies.
My kid prefers to be with a child minder rather being in a nursery again.
The childminder has said if she is sick, we dont pay. is she is on holiday we dont pay. But pay for all other set days, but that is reduced to 1/2 charge for stat. and school holidays.
it was not just the financial aspect but the aspect of being charged for a service when i am not using it, which initiated me to start this thread. really just wanted to have some idea what goes on with other parents & child minders out there.

Spendless

Some childminders do offer a term-time only contract. I've just been to lunch with a child-minder friend of mine and she does. Her minded kids are all teachers children, but not all childminders offer this. You'd have to ask around.

I'm at college, so I'm off when the children are off and I use a breakfast/asc instead and only pay term-time.

ceebeeby

We've had both types - one where we paid a flat fee every month and that covered every eventuality, and now, one where we just pay for time used (which is never during hols).

Bear in mind that if you DON'T use your childminder during school holidays he / she can take in other school children (this is what ours does) to make up their numbers. If this is the case, you may want to ask why a holding fee is neccessary as they're being paid.

Ultimately though its up to you to come up with a workable solution with your childminder.

Yorkshire-Lady_3

I am a childminder and am inundated with calls for Term time only. I usually find that once you childmind for a teacher, word spreads and recommendations count for a lot.

The problem is that if you don't charge a retainer, you're losing around 13 weeks pay, unless you can fill the space with a holiday child.

I also tell the parents that although their child isn't attending, the place is still there for them to use at any time, so they can do all the things that they need to do, which can be very difficult with a small child in tow ie Dental appointments - hairdressers etc.

I also find that if a child has 6 weeks holiday, it's more difficult to settle them back into routine, so if the child still attends occasionally, it's better all round.

It's not really fair to begrude us any holiday pay. Teachers in particualr get full whack 52 weeks a year, and I'm sure they earn a hell of a lot more than £3 an hour.

JMI.

Sally

inkie

we paid 1/2 pay for our holidays, and wasn't charged for CM holidays. I think if you find the right minder that is the key.

Rachie_B

It's like *most* childcare facilities

pre school,day nursery etc, you pay even if you dont use the facility ie your child is ill or on holiday

Why should a childminder be any different ?

Lil2002

MKwife wrote: »

Check out the childminding website and you can contact someone from here.

http://www.ncma.org.uk

And in Scotland

http://www.childminding.org

ailuro2

Be fair to them and they will be fair back is the way I have always been with our childminders.

Ours didn't charge 1/2 rate for holidays at first (she was new to the job) but we paid her anyway, as I think it's fair. She now charges her other mothers half rate when they are on holidays,but not when CM is on holiday.

I also pay her double time when she works a bank holiday, as that is what I'm paid.

When she agreed to take childcare vouchers which saved me a fair bit of money, I upped her hourly rate.

In return she offers reduced rates for full days during holidays, takes my child horseriding, swimming etc with some of the 'extra' money and we are both very happy with the arrangement.

Yorkshire-Lady_3

ailuro2 - You sound like a lovely Mum! It's a shame not all parents care as much about their childminder, after all, we do a hell of a responsible job for relatively poor fees.
I've had some great parents in the past, but also some who begrudged paying and would 'forget' their cheque book, or claim the ATM wasn't working. Yet they were the sort of person that would kick up an almighty stink if they were paid late!

Sally x