questions questions!

[peggy]

hi everyone!

My brain is spinning with so many questions and hopefully your'll be able to help me out a little! Its really just a little info on charges really that has me in a spin - hope that this is okay to ask on here?

Firstly, i was wondering whether any of you charge extra for meals? And if so how much per meal?

Secondly, just reading one of the other threads that has made me think about desposits etc..... i dont want to be cut short!

I was thinking i may ask for one months deposit and one months pay in advance....but for a full timer that would really be very expensive especially if they just started work and hasnt been paid yet? Would it put people coming to me? Suggestions on what everyone else does would be very much appreciated!

After school sessions and term time only - i was thinking that i could charge for a min of 3 hours after school and a half price retainer for those that only require term time only, do you think that this is realistically acceptable?

Does anyone charge for their own holidays?!

.... i think that maybe it for now!!

thanks

[deeb66]

Hi Peggy

It is hard trying to work out what to do for the best isn't it?

If you look through the old posts you will see lots of ideas etc on what different minders do around the country and you would be amazed at how it changes from rea to area.

To give you an idea I always charge quite a high deposit on the understanding that if the child starts on the agreed date then I will deduct the money from the first months fee's - all fee's are paid in advance! If the child does not start and the parent pulls out of the contract then they loose the money they have paid - this is why I charge quite a high amount...usually in the area of £300-£350.

As for your after school and holidays - thats what I would do also.

I charge full fee for Bank Holidays and parents holidays and parents/child's sickness. I do not charge if I am on holiday or cannot work due to sickness in my household.

As I said there are quite a few posts on this subject already but I hope this has helped in the meantime.

Dee

[deeb66]

Sorry Peggy - just noticed you are in Surrey - where abouts are you?

Dee

[son77]

Sorry I'm a bit confused!

After school sessions and term time only - i was thinking that i could charge for a min of 3 hours after school and a half price retainer for those that only require term time only, do you think that this is realistically acceptable?

Do you mean charge a 1/2 price retainer during term time and full price when they are in your care? Wouldn't that work out quite expensive for the parents? Or am I too soft!

[deeb66]

You charge them for the time they are with you after school - a majority of minders charge a session fee rather than hourly rate.

If the child does not come to you during the school holidays you should charge a retainer (most charge half fee) to hold the place when the child returns back to school and to you. Most parents accept that they have to pay this retainer as it guarantees that they wont loose the place to another child.

Dee

[son77]

That has suprised me I have to be honest. I'm sure most people who require after school care would also need school hols too but for the minority who don't need school hols the after school care becomes quite expensive, then they would be better using an after school club.
I'm only saying this because my son used to go to after school club and I didn't need holiday cover, so I wouldn't of been prepared to pay a half fee retainer (if you see where i'm coming from!)
This is twice tonight I'm going to say this- I've still so much to learn!!

[deeb66]

Hi

It's ok - it really does get confusing sometimes and even after the length of time I have been minding I have to sit and really think about it.

It really would depend upon what the parents wanted from you. I have worked with several school age children in the past so lets take them as examples.

child 1 - He used to spend just over 3 hours a night after school. His mum was self employed so she used to take the school holidays off to spend with him. So during term time she would pay me for the hours he spent with me and half retainer during the school holidays as she looked after him.

Child 2 - I used to take the child to school in the mornings and look after him after school. I charged only for the hours he was with me. The parents requested that I look after the child during school holidays and Inset Days so I would obviously charge extra hours when I had him - I did not charge any retainer for those hours that he was at school during term time as I didn't need to as he wasn't 'blocking' an under 5 slot .......does this make sense?

Child 3 - The parents used to send the child to the local borough run playscheme as it was cheaper than me having to look after him. Therefore they paid me for the hours they used in term time and half retainer fee in school holidays.

I hope all this makes sense - as I said sometimes it can be hard to work out what you should and shouldn't be charging for!!

Dee

[peggy]

thanks dee, i'm clear on what youre saying, i'm thinking along similar lines too! It is v hard knowing what to do as you dont want to sell yourslef short but you dont want to be overpriced either!

Do you charge extra for home cooked meals and lunches etc?

I'm in banstead, where bouts are you?

[son77]

Think I got it, I was getting a bit confused!

So if 'Billy' came 3pm-6pm term time they pay full fee.
School hols 3pm-6pm they did not require your services they pay half fee for these hours (because they have booked these hours so to speak). But obviously if they wanted you to look after their child all day in the hols because they at work they pay the extra. Yes? Have I got it??

I was thinking in school hols the half retainer fee was for all day, not just their usual hours. Don't ask me why, I just was!!

So in my case as I charge half for child hols it would be the same, if they dont come it's like they are taking a holiday so I charge half fee.

Sorry about all the confusion!!!!!!

Sonya xx

[jules]

Hi Peggy,

Just noticed you're in Banstead, I live fairly close to you in Cheam.

I have children that parent's are school teachers, so I don't have them in the holidays. I charge 1/2 fee retainer to keep the place for them.

The other two children I sometimes have during the holidays. During termtime I have them 4 days a week, during the holidays I generally only had them 2 days a week. However, because it was the parent's choice not to send them to me, they still paid me for the 4 days. I hope this makes sense.

[deeb66]

Hi Peggy

I am in Weybridge

Dee

[deeb66]

Sonya

Yes that's right - it really does get confusing doesn't it? - it is also sometimes harder to fully explain in written word rather than spoken hence my examples as I find it easier to understand myself - lol!!

Dee

[susi513]

Firstly, i was wondering whether any of you charge extra for meals? And if so how much per meal?

Breakfast £1.25, lunch £1.40, dinner £1.80
Parents can choose to book meals or supply packups. After school snack for those not having dinner is free. Also if anyone comes early am they can have fruit mid-morning. Currently i'm not doing morning snacks cos most don't arrive til 9 and one arrives still eating her breakfast!

Secondly, deposits etc..... i dont want to be cut short!

I charge 1 months fees as a deposit which I keep until the arrangement ends (so i'm covered during the notice period -some people have been caught out by parents moving house & not leaving a forwarding address/going abroad!) If anyone had a problem with this I would consider dividing the cost of the deposit up into payments added to regular fees until paid up.

After school sessions and term time only
I charge 1 hour session fee before school and session fee equivalent to 3 hours for after school. i don't charge in school holidays for term-time placements cos I've got enough in the holidays already. The under fives do pay retainer in holidays tho.

Does anyone charge for their own holidays?!
I charge 1/2 fees at xmas & easter and full fees on bank holidays but any other time i'm closed i don't charge. Some people charge 1/2 fees for all holidays but if you're going to do that I suggest you set a maximum number of weeks - some families don't take much holiday but others take loads.

And be careful how you word your contract (if you're not using NCMA one) - one parent was astounded that her childminder wanted to charge her full fees while she (the parent) was on holiday. She didn't realise that it made a difference that her child wasn't on holiday with her but still attending childcare, being taken to/from by a grandparent. She thought she should pay half fees!!!!!

[peggy]

thanks everyone! You've all given me much food for thought and some ideas i've not thought of! I guess at the end of the day we can only go with what feels right to, but definately all your contributions have been really helpful and i think i'm gonna do a bit more research and combine some of the suggestions on here! I'll get there in the end!!!

thanks once again.... i think i am offically addicted to this site!

a big hello to all the surrey girls btw!!

xxx

[deeb66]

Hi Peggy

Dee

[tasha]

Hi Peggy,



Tasha