4 years old at school

[rasharoon]

From September, I will be minding a 4 year old girl (would have turned 4 in the August). I will be taking her to Infants School where she will attend from 08.50am until midday. Do I charge the parent for those hours she is at school?
Thank you.

[lou]

what times is she coming? i would prob say yes because you would find it difficult to fill the space between 9 and 12, but the parents might disagree?

why is she not attending full time school? where i am, children that are 4 before sept 1st attend full time school from this sept (with the exception of a couple of weeks of half days) therefore they are classed in the over 5 age group.

[rasharoon]

Thanks for your reply.
With the 4 year old not being at school full-time - I think it is to do with the way my area does their intake. She will be full-time from January 2008 yet at the moment is classed as a younger child as my Son will be 5 in October yet starts full-time in September.
Anyway, I will be having her from 8.00am so walking her and her sister (8 years old) to school.
I've got the mum coming round in the next few days to do contracts and as this is the first time I will have ever filled one in, just want to be sure I'm doing it right and not short changing myself.
Thank you.

[rasharoon]

Sorry - should have also said that I will be having both girls until 6.00pm so in effect, it is a whole day - 8.00am - 6.00pm.

[smartypants]

Are you responsible for the child when she is at school?
If you are you charge!!

I look after a boy which goes to playschool from 9 to 11.30 then collect him and have him until 5.30
Sometimes i have him from 8am but mum normal takes him to playschool. I get paid from 8 to 6pm.

I would defiantly charge but like Lou says it is difficult to fill a place for a few hours in the morning!!!

Kate

[rasharoon]

I have stated to the parents that I will not be the emergency contact should their child fall ill at school. Does this make a difference for those 3 hours?

[angeldelight]

I do not charge when children are in school

Just before and after

Everyone does it different for 4 year olds - I do not - I do the same as any school age child

If you are not their emergency contact during school hours you are therefore not available so would not be able to charge

Does everyone agree ?

Angel xx

[smartypants]

I would still charge if i was you.

Trying to fill a space for a few hours is a nightmare and you will be loosing out!!!

Kate x

[lou]

maybe you could say that you will have to charge for those hours, because you wont be able to fill the space, and in return you could be the emergency contact?

i have to say i think i would charge anyway because you will never be able to fill the three hours, then when she goes to school, she will go up into the over 5 group and then you will have a space, and then she would just pay for before and after school.

thats what i would do anyway. maybe im too hard? what does everyone else think?

[smartypants]

lou said:

maybe you could say that you will have to charge for those hours, because you wont be able to fill the space, and in return you could be the emergency contact?

i have to say i think i would charge anyway because you will never be able to fill the three hours, then when she goes to school, she will go up into the over 5 group and then you will have a space, and then she would just pay for before and after school.

thats what i would do anyway. maybe im too hard? what does everyone else think?

I agree!!!
Filling a space for 6 hours is so much easier than 3 hour!!!

[rasharoon]

Thank you all.
I am dreading the conversation with the parents because as it is, I need to talk about retainer fees over any of the school holidays as the Mum is a teacher and has said she doesn't need to use my setting during those times.
I am in the camp that whilst her daughter is at school for 3 hours, I should charge because as pointed out, I'll never find anybody to fill a space for 3 hours - especially as it is only for 3 months.
As for agreeing to be an emergency contact, I still don't feel happy about this as if I do it for one, I would then have to do it for others and as I expand my business and get the younger ones in, it would be difficult to do.
Thank you all.

[smartypants]

Could you tell the mother that you would be her emergency contact just until she goes to school?

Like you said its just for short term and then you can get paid for the 3 hours.

When child goes to school you can fill her place so you wont loose out?

Just a thought, hope that helps

Kate

[angeldelight]

I suppose I am lucky that I have children during the day to fill the spaces of the children who are at school

Still not sure if you can charge though if you are not available for emergency?
I know when I do charge - ie for children when they are at nursery I make myself available for emergency if they were to get ill at nursery I would go and collect them

I did think it would work the same way if they were at school??

I can understand where you are coming from though to be honest


( sorry I did not read it correctly I did not see the 3 mth bit before )


Maybe then in that situation I would charge because like you say it could stop you having a full time child in that time

Do not worry - I am sure it will work it self out
We all worry what to say to parents when we first meet and we all hate to ask for money etc

Good luck don't forget to keep us updated

Angel xx

[manjay]

I think I would charge for the hours she is at school until she goes full time in January. Where I live all three year olds go to school for half a day for 12 months so I have had to write into my policies that this time is chargable although I am still the first point of contact for the school.

If I had agreed with parents that I wasn't the main contact for the school I would not charge for these hours.

Amanda xx

[susi513]

I do this - our reception class is mornings only til half term. So up til then the child is taking up one of my under fives spaces and has to pay for the time at school in the same way they pay while they are at preschool.

I have done half days for some people who didn't need me before school or in school holidays - they did not have the morning available to them in the holidays and I could not under any circumstance collect their child early. If school closes (staff training, boiler breakdown, heavy snow, staff strike) its parent's problem.

when the child starts full time school or has 5th birthday then I do new contracts and charge differently - 1 before school session fee and/or session fee for after school with no charge for time at school.

[jules]

I would charge while she is at school, because you are taking and collecting her. If the mum protests about the payment because you are not emergency contact, perhaps you could charge 1/2 fee while she is at school for those 3 hours, so you are both getting something, you some money as you will not be able to take another child on, and the mother won't be paying the whole amount for those hours. This may be a way to compromise.

The little girl I mind is starting school in September, but for the first 3 weeks will only be doing half day. The parent has agreed to paying full fee for those weeks, but when she goes full time, she will only be paying before and after school as I am not emergency contact. If I was I would probably charge an amount while she was at school as I would have to be available.

Hope this goes well for you.
Julie

[deeb66]

I would also charge whilst she was at school because she is effectively 'blocking' an under 5 place.

When she started full time I would drop the charge to the hours I only actually had her in my care i.e. before and after school

Dee