retainer fees for child going to school

[bessie]

I'm in a difficult situation at present and would appreciate any thoughts. I have siblings 3 and 4, the 4 year old starts school in Aug and parents want him to stay with me after school and during the holidays and also to be the person who picks him up from school if he bumps his head, feels sick, the heating breaks down - what ever. Obviously it would be difficult to fill the space 9-2.30 term time only and even if I did manage to fill the space then if I did take him on a school day I would be over my limit. I have suggested that due to the high level of care they expect and receive from me they should pay a retainer during his school time to keep the space open for him to cover any eventuality. One parent understands this entirely but the other feels differently. Consequently we are now both 'thinking about it' and for the last two weeks since our contract review nothing has been said. Reading through past posts it does seem that this notion of retainer is a hard one for parents to get to grips with but despite the fact that I've had these chn since babies and they are very much part of our family during the long hours that they spend here, that won't pay the bills!!

[Pauline]

Hi Bessie

Personally as he is under 5 and, as you say, you would be over your limit if you had to have him during a daytime then yes, they should pay a retainer.

Perhaps once he reaches the age of 5 and moves into the next age group you could charge the usual before and after school rate with an overtime rate if he needs to come during term time.

Some people say that 4 year olds in full time education are not included in your under 5's but that seems to be a grey area at times but it might be worth contacting Ofsted and asking if that is the case for you. In which case you could treat him as a school age child and take on another under 5

When you have had the children for so long it's a shame when parents haggle over payment, it's not like they are going to be any worse off is it? In fact they will be a little better off if only paying a retainer rather than the previous full fee.

Hope that helps. Will be interested to see what the others think.

[manjay]

Hi there,

I am not sure how relevant this is for you in Scotland but the Welsh standards allow any child under 5 who is in full time education to be classed as a five year old. Maybe it would be a good idea to check this out as this could solve your problem

[angeldelight]

I agree with everything Pauline says

But it is not what I do

I do not charge for any child that is in school at all no matter what their age is.

I do understand where you are coming from though it is a bit of a difficult one

I always find a retainer a complete and utter waste of time I never hear any childminder say it is a good idea
No parent seems to like paying this well not the ones on a low income or with more than 1 or 2 children anyway

Going back to your problem you have to think how much do you want this job? You say these children have become part of your family so would you really like to see them go
Think about it you would be losing more than just the retainer fee you would be losing money for both the children rather than just the one when he is in school

How good is your relationship with the parents could you ask if they would pay half at least maybe ?

I just always think that sometimes it is worth holding on to the good ones ( if they are that of course )

Sorry I couldn't be of more help I'm too soft I know

Angel xx

[bessie]

Hi - Thanks for the thoughts on this one. I agree that it's a good idea to hold onto the 'good' ones and these certainly are that.

Yes, he'll be 5 sooner rather than later so that will make a difference to my under 5's allowance.

I think that for the time being I'll not push the idea of a retainer but suggest that I just have him after school and they pay for just those hours. It will mean though that they will have to leave work themselves if he needs to stay at home for any reason.

If I take on another child to fill the gap I just won't have the physical space to get him in an emergency as we live in a rural area and all picking up has to be done by car and I only have a normal sized car so once I have three minded chn in the back and pick up my daughter that's me full up.

A people carrier would do the trick but my husband says we really don't need one for 3.5 days childminding when we only have the one ourselves - I do see his point.

[angeldelight]

I think that is a good idea to charge just for after school but put it in their contract that you will be unable to collect him from school in an emergency due to the fact you are not under any obligation at that time to do it

I have a little boy who is 7 now been coming since he was 4 I had the same sort of problem but I charged from the start just for after school
She did call me a few times and say the school had called her and he was ill could I go and get him. I just told her "no sorry"
I am glad that I continued to have the little boy because I like you "thought about it " but now mom has a new baby so its given me 3 full days looking after him
It does after all pay to keep hold of the "good ones"

Hope it works out for you too Bessie

Angel xx

[bessie]

Hi again - I'll let you know how it goes.

My daughter is very attached to these children - and they to her - so I guess it's in my interests for quite a few reasons to hang on to them if I can.

Thanks for listening. Bx

[bessie]

Hi there

Just thought I'd update on this.

I have at last agreed a new contract with this family and I'm happy to say that they will pay a retainer for the hours the child is at school and I will be responsible for the child if the school is closed for any reason - this happens in the winter as it's a small rural village school vulnerable to power cuts etc. or if child has to be collected early for any reason.

I'm glad to have this sorted out.

Bx

[deeb66]

Hi Bessie

I am glad it is all sorted and the children will be staying with you

Dee

[angeldelight]

Wow Bessie that is great news

No one in my area likes to pay a retainer for some reason

Glad you got it sorted out

Angel xx

[bessie]

Thanks for your gladness ladies.

I must say it's always been more about the children than the money but we've got to eat!

I'm just glad to keep the balance of happiness in our house going for a bit longer.

Bx

[susi513]

Personally, I wouldn't agree to be emergency contact because th e most likely reason to collect a child is sickness and I don't think thats fair on other minded children.

Also, the one time I got called from school to pick up a mindie (period pains so no threat to other mindies), 2 mindies had just gone off to sleep in their cots. I can imagine other calls coming in, just as I'm dishing up lunch or paid entrance fee to soft play centre/toddlers etc ...

[Pauline]

susi513 said:

Personally, I wouldn't agree to be emergency contact because th e most likely reason to collect a child is sickness and I don't think thats fair on other minded children.

Also, the one time I got called from school to pick up a mindie (period pains so no threat to other mindies), 2 mindies had just gone off to sleep in their cots. I can imagine other calls coming in, just as I'm dishing up lunch or paid entrance fee to soft play centre/toddlers etc ...

That's a good point, I usually say that the parents should be contacted in the first instance and if they (the parents) then want to phone me and see if I'm available to pick up or care for the child then they can, but I can't guarantee it. Then at least you don't then feel obliged to have them if you are doing something else.

[donnam]

Hi just a quick reply i would not charge a retainer,simply because once at school full time they are definitely classed as 5 ,so they are not taking a place up.i would only be emergency contact if i was available and the time was convenient.
Donna

[tasha]

Hi,
I only agree to be an emergency contact if put last on the list ie Grandma or Auntie first. I outline that I may not be able to collect depending on the circumstances , but if I do then a days fees are payable - much to my surprise this worked really well!!!

I agree it should be about the children, however at the end of the day we run a business and yes we have bills to pay etc.
Tasha

[peggy]

Ofsted confirmed to me last week that if a child aged 4 is attending full time school you can class them in your over five numbers.

[susi513]

That's right - 10 sessions weekly and suddenly a 4 year old can be classed with over fives.

our local school only opens mornings only for the first half term for the reception class, so they still count as under 5s through September and October. So I charge for the time they are at school the same way I do while they are at preschool - because they are taking up 1 of my under 5 places. Once they go in the afternoons as well I can treat them as an over 5 and I don't charge while they are at school but instead I charge session fees - a fee for 1 hour before school and a fee for up to 3 hours after school.