child minder query

babyblooz

Childminders incur extra costs, like heating and lighting, and cooking costs. We don't have to pay that out when we are at work.

I knew one teacher years ago who used to change her childminder every year, so that during the six weeks hols she didn't have to pay half wages. Hate to think how that affected her little one!

What price do you put on a child's emotional wellbeing.

You have outgoings while you are away on holiday, everyone does, even childminders!

Rachie_B

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

I presume this £3 an hour is PER CHILD not in total, so if you look after 3 kids then thats £9 an hour. That is often more that what the parents are earning

dont forget that before a childminder can take a "wage" or make a "profit" there are many expenses to take off that hourly rate .......

activities / outings / food / toys & equipment / heating ,lighting etc in the home / car expenses petrol etc.........

anonymousie

The simple answer is CM are self employed and set their own rates and terms etc as they wish too. When you employ them you agree to these terms.

TBH as with all childcare, as already said, it is the right person that matters, and most of us mums (esp with more than one child) go through a phase where they virtually empty their wages into the CM/nursery account whilst the kids are below school age at least:rotfl: For me it is worth every penny (though I would not like to add up the moeny I have spent/am still spending on child care over the years!).

i don't begrudge the money as my children are very happy there.

Quietgirl

My cm is priceless. My child is happy, safe & secure. She's in a loving family enviroment. I can rest easy at work knowing she's ok. Her teacher told me that he'd like 25 kids like my girl & that her manners are impeckable. Thats my cm & i bringing her up. I consider my cm a good friend and my girl loves her. Being an employee myself i like to feel appretiated. My mum used to mind my daughter until she took ill which is why i have a cm but my cm looked after my girl above and beyond when my mum was critical in hospital & did not charge extra. I have no problem paying holidays, sick days which are rare anyway because cm is good with us. Security, stability for my child is worth it.

newcook

if you need any childcare in the holidays, by paying the retainer she must be available to care for your child whether you chose to use her services or not - if she says she has no places she is breaking the law - the childminder is only allowed to look after 6 children at a time under the age of 8 (3 over 5years, 2 between 1 and 5 and 1 under 1 unless a variation has been approved). whether or not your children are in her care, if you have paid a retainer for set amount of hours per day she cannot accept your money and have another child fill the space.

I guess the reason she is charging is because she IS available - if you choose not to use her services that is your choice. same way that if your child is off sick she will still charge you full price and if you chose to pick up your child early from care one day you would still be billed for the amount of hours you originally requested.

most childminders charge a retainer for bank hols as although they are available to look after your child normally the parents are off as well and choose not to send child to childminders. you will probably find that if you did want to send your child to childminders on a stat hol that she will charge you double (minimum)

Yorkshire-Lady_3

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

I presume this £3 an hour is PER CHILD not in total, so if you look after 3 kids then thats £9 an hour. That is often more that what the parents are earning

True, and I often hear parents saying 'oh, I couldn't do your job for a million pounds'. Looking after 3 under 5's is very hard work, both physically and mentally. I know it would be easier to go to work, but I also realise I love my freedom. If I want to stay in and make crafts all day, I can. If I want to do asome simple baking, I can. If I want to go to the loo on my own - I can't! (sometimes, thats all I long for some days!)

Good CM's are worth their weight in gold. I love the children I care for, and they love me. It's very hard work, and I earn every penny, but I wouldn't swap it for anything.

Sally

By the way, in almost 13 yrs of childminding, I've never had a day off sick. I've had days when I wasn't well, but I carried on as I appreciate the parents also have to work.

inmypocketnottheirs

I would just like to say how refreshing it is to read of so many parents who appreciate their childminders. My wife has been a cm for over 5 years, and some of the children are around the same ages as our own two boys and have become great friends to us all. We have some children come to our house at almost 6 years of age that have been coming since babes in arms, and it is a great pleasure to be so highly thought of, by both the child and the parents.

Child minding also has a lot of 'knock on' effects to the family, mum's (and sometimes dad's too) time gets split. It can be very stressful at meal times, and it is surprising just how much money gets spent on food and snacks and time on meal preparations.

As this whole thread started with the question of charging through holidays, then as stated above if the parent is not prepared to pay through the holidays, then they really can not be disappointed if the space is given to someone else. My wife actually has a waiting list of parents, and there are frequent phone calls of recommendations.

My advice is, if you value the continuity of care, and want a responsive child minder that will do what ever she can to help, especially in emergencies (which can and do occur), then treat her well, pay her promptly and appreciate the valuable job that she does. If you don't, expect to be let down and messed around. Also remember that child minders network, and poor payers or 'awkward' parents do get blackballed.

Quietgirl

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

My advice is, if you value the continuity of care, and want a responsive child minder that will do what ever she can to help, especially in emergencies (which can and do occur), then treat her well, pay her promptly and appreciate the valuable job that she does. If you don't, expect to be let down and messed around. Also remember that child minders network, and poor payers or 'awkward' parents do get blackballed.

Very true about Networking, they all do the same training courses, I know my cm attends them at our local sure start. There all buddys. They all know each other at school. But the best part is if your cm is on holiday then she'll refer you to one she knows to cover if you have to work. My cm has a folder full of qualifications, she is Ofsted. Also first aid qualified. She attends alot of sure start courses too, which is out of hours but benefits my child. Also my cm works on saturdays for me. My cm does not advertise she is just recomended by word of mouth.

Moneybubbles

I'm a childminder who offer term time spaces and full time spaces

My under 5's are full time and I'm required all year, I don't work bank hols, and have 4 weeks unpaid hols. Parents pay 1/2 fee if they give me 4 weeks noitce for their hols. most work holiday same time as me to get no payment (which works great!)

Term time I charge term time only and don't charge for school holidays.

I did have a 3 year old who didn't need looking after during school holidays and I didn't charge during that time.

It really depends on the childminder, it's a very hard but rewarding job, having a good relationship with your childminder is very important

emma_b_4

when i was a nanny for a teacher, i had four weeks paid holiday, but they didnt need me for the school holidays really, but then again they would "appreciate" me being available for them. i was soft and didnt look for any other work, keeping myself open for the family as they needed. when they moved away and i left, i "owed" them about 6 weeks so basically worked 6 weeks for no money.......put me off term time only work!
as i understand it, from the nurseries where i have worked, bank holidays arent charged but all other days are, the days you are booked in for i mean, so if your on holiday or whatever you still pay. and there was never a term time only contract (i worked for local authority nurseries not private)