how do i charge/wor out holiday only contracts etc

[nadmaj]

Hi ya,
I've just had a call from a parent looking for school holidays only contract and got a bit confused as to what to charge her - i told her my normal amount and that i would take a 50% retainer to keep the place open for her child and do i also charge her a retainer for the time she desn't use me eg term time. is this correct - she's going to ring me back and i need all the infor about holiday contracts as i'm not sure about what to tell her about the holidays.

thanks in advance

[bubbly]

I was wondering about this too. Do you normally charge a % of the parents fees to keep the child's holiday place open while the child is at school? If that's the case, do you bill them monthly during term time and do they actually pay on time if it's via the post?

What kind of a percentage would be reasonable? I was thinking perhaps a monthly retainer of 10% - 15% of the parents contracted monthly fee as that would work out to between £51 - £76.50 per (4 week) month for a child based upon 8.5 hours @ £3 per hour/5 days per week.

I'm really stumped on this and, like nadmaj, would appreciate a few pointers.

My son's childminder never charged me anything during term time so am I being totally silly if I charge?

[lou]

Personally i wouldnt charge a retainer during term time as i dont know any parent who would be willing to pay that. A child who only comes in holidays is normally in the 5-8 age range, or the 8 and over, so i would have space for them and would just charge my normal rate in the holidays for them.

If i have it the other way around, ie a child age under 5 who only attends in term time, i charge a 50% retainer fee in holidays as i wouldnt be able to fill that.

hope that makes sense x

[deeb66]

I am the same as Lou

I have yet to meet a minder who does charge a retainer for term time for an over 5 - but you never know!!!

Dee

[nadmaj]

the child is 4 so she goes to school i will be looking after the child from 9-3 pm 6 hours a day 30 hours a week and i charge £3.20 per hour so it would come to £96.00 a week

So if i'm to charge a retainer i've put in my policy that i would take a retainer of 50% the normal fee for term time contracts shouls i apply this to holiday only contracts aswel?

if so then it would be £48.00 retainer a week for term time and normal fee during the times i'm having the child.

correct me if i'm wrong

[strawbs]

I would not pay for a retainer during term time just for a holiday contract and i doubt anyone else would either

[sarahnev707]

I wouldn't charge - I would just fill the place

A 4 year old at school is classed as 5, so it wouldn't be a problem if s/he needed to come on an extra inset day or in an emergency

Sarahx

[bubbly]

Thanks. I'm going to do what you all do and not charge. It cuts down on paperwork and seems fair.

[nadmaj]

yeh me too.