Becoming a Childminder ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE!!

cazad

yep i agree with the post above but for me being with my children when they need me and not having to put my little one into childcare far outweighs the disadvantages. I do have a play room for the children, set house rules and make the children aware of these i dont find damage to my house being a problem. I have been childminding for nearly 4 years and can honestly say i have had no drawing on walls or paper ripping ( my own children never done it so i teach the children i care for not to do it too)

superflygal

Well i got the info pack this morning, and booked place on the seminar.

TBH i had considered the negative points you mentioned webbie. Do you think i could ask for payment by standing order/childcare voucher to avoid payment problems? What do you do, webbie when the parents *forget* to pay? Have you ever had that prob cazad?

Im planning to take them to park/groups as often as poss to limit wear and tear on my nice house! Like cazad says, i'll teach them to respect the house (if i can) and hopefully by using sticker/reward charts i can encourage good behavior.

Superflygal x

cazad

Hi pleased to hear you got your pack.
With regards to payment i have been very lucky with my parents and am paid on a weekly basis in advance of care which works well for me.

I stay with weekly paments as i think if for some reason they say they cant pay me at least it is just the week and not a month of arrears.

I did have one lady who said she couldnt pay but she soon came up with the money when i told her that i couldnt have her child without payment.

You just have to make sure when you do contracts with parents you put everything on them that you agree to e.g hourly rate, time off , holiday payments, sickness etc the list goes on but the more you can put down in writing the better.
I have got 1 parent who is changing to childcare vouchers next month so i will let you know how that goes.
cazad

webbie

I have been lucky with most parents regarding payment - always agree on contract that payment is made in advance - I have one parent currently who "forgets" - but once reminded that the agreement is "no pay = no childcare" - they soon remember!!

Difficulty is you can build up really good relationships/friendships with parents - then they feel they can ask favours over and above childminding etc. I am now godmother to one of my previous childminded children - and we all go on holiday together every year!!

Respect for your house is always important - it's a life lesson too - but accidents do happen - I must have looked after over 30 toddlers and potty trained around 9 - there will be mess/accidents/bad behaviour that will result in damage or wear and tear whatever you do.

superflygal

Thanks folks,

Luckily (i think) my house is painted/laminate floor/leather sofas so at least poos and wees can be cleaned up with least stainage. Thanks for tips on payment. Is it best to be paid in person than paid by standing order then? I guess you'd have to check that payment was in teh bank before you accepted the child otherwise...

Caz would be very interested to hear about the childcare voucher thing. Is it just like a cheque that you pay into the bank for the childminder's part?

Do both of you mainly have school age children so you have daytimes free?

regarding your contracts, are you given a template once you register? Or do you make it up yourself? Does it have to be approved by a solicitor?

Also, do you find you pay much tax or does tax relief help a lot?

Hope you don't mind all the questions....

Superflygal x

cazad

Hi i am either paid in person by cheque or cash. I suppose standing order would be ok but i think i would then adjust the payment date so you knew that the money would be in your bank by the monday as it can take a couple of days to transfer i think.
I think witht he childcare voucher its a direct transfer once the parent phones up the voucher people and authorises payment.

I am a little on the low side in numbers at the moment so i only have my own daughter today as the other little girl i have is at nursery.
I then have 2 boys before and after school. they go home at 4.30 so it is a little buisier then as i also have older children of my own .
I use the NCMA for all of my contracts etc and liability insurance. Dont know if it is the same everywhere but when i started i got a £300 grant which i could use for equiptment and also for my ncma pack which is everything you will need on the paperwork and insurance front.
Last year i earned a decent ammount and didnt pay any tax due to all the things you can offset.
You do have to inform HMRC and register as self employed within 6months of registering. they will bill you for national insuracne contributions (just had mine today)

webbie

Childcare vouchers are fine - and a good selling point. The parent agrees at set amount to be deducted directly from their wages - and it is "held" in a account - my parents use Busy bees voucher scheme. I then invoice my parent at the start of the month - and they phone/email Busy Bees and authorise the payment. Works fine unless parent forgets to ring, only happened once.

You need to register as self-employed. There are lots of expenses to offset from income - petrol, heating, lighting, food, craft stuff, toys, new equipment, playscheme fees, insurance, part council tax, milk, paper. I earn over £1000 per month childminding and have paid very little tax due to expenses - all legit I might add!! I do look after 8 children after school - so costs a fortune in food!

superflygal

Cheers caz,

I think the £300 grant applies in my area. Thats brilliant about the tax. In your opinion do you think its possible to earn £1000 a month? Do you ask for the cheque guarantee card for the payments? Just wondering if a cheque may bounce.

Hope the kids behave for you today

Superflygal x

webbie

superflygal wrote: »

Cheers caz,

I think the £300 grant applies in my area. Thats brilliant about the tax. In your opinion do you think its possible to earn £1000 a month? Do you ask for the cheque guarantee card for the payments? Just wondering if a cheque may bounce.

Hope the kids behave for you today

Superflygal x

I earn over £1,000 per month - but I built that up over a few years. I work 10.5 hour days, 4 days a week - and can have up to 8 children in my house at any one time. It is a lot of work - but basically, the more you look after, the more you earn!! (Sounds like I pack them in!!).

I don't ask for a cheque guarantee card, but bounced cheque would = no more childcare!! There are very few minders in my area, so parents know they cannot afford to lose their space!

superflygal

Thats good. I need to make that if i can. Do u charge £3 per hour webbie? Do u have many kids in the day? Or mainly morning before school and after school?

Superflygal x