Do you charge for settling in?

[beckycoop]

Hi,

Bit of a funny one.....I didnt really think about it until Mum asked how to pay.
I have two brothers starting in 4 weeks time (My first children as I am newly registered). They have been for 2 visits with Mum&Dad and 1 visit on their own for 1.5hrs.
They are due 3 more settling in visits before they start full time.

During these 3 visits they will be staying for lunch. Do any of you charge for these settling in hours? They will be for 4 hrs each time.
I never really thought about payment but should I be charging for this?
Any help greatly appreciated ;D
Becky

[lorraine2767]

Hi

Normally the children I look after only come once or maybe twice for an hour or so, so normally I do not charge, saying that the little boy I look after now the mum did pay I didn't ask she just gave it to me.

If they are stopping for lunch then I would charge or just charge a set amount as a one off.

Let us know how you get on.

Lorraine xx

[ajs]

funnily enough i never did until parent's started expecting the settling in to take a month of 3 days a week
so now yes unless it's just one short session i charge my usual rate

[sarahnev707]

They can have an hour or so once or twice free, but if they want longer or stay for meals, then I charge.....

eg have an interview on Friday; start talking about settling in; parents say 'now you come to mention it... are you free on....?'
They pay!

Sarahx

[heldraincloud]

Hi

I allow up to a 2 hour settling in session for free, then any more than that I would charge, I dont charge for meals...but if I did I would charge £1.75 for a hot meal and 90p for a sarnie and trimmings

[banana]

I give a 3 hour session free and then the rest is paid.

x

[mel]

I give a one of shorter session as free and then allow a 2 week settling in period to make sure we are both happy but I do charge for this.

Mel x

[miffy]

I don't usually charge for settling in visits but if the parent wanted to leave the child for a long time or several times a week or each week for months before they started then I would charge - hope that makes sense.

Miffy

[susi513]

I offer 1st session free of up to 2 hours, everything else is chargeable.

[son77]

I have a little boy start in nov & he will be having 3 2 hour sessions free (well technically not free because she has paid a retainer fee, so it's at half price!). I still sold the settling in sessions as free though!

[cheryl1]

I dont tend to charge settling in fees, but if the parents wanted more than an hour or so twice i would definately charge. x

[michellethegooner]

I do charge settling in fees the first session would normally b free as this would only be a 30min session thereafter I charge a retainer fee at half the normal rate and in this time parents can have 3hrs per their contracted times to settle in e.g. parent chooses 2days per wk 8-6 normal fees would b £40 if settling in they would pay£20 and have 3hrs to settle in but on same day hope that makes sense

michelle x

[buildingblocks]

These all depend ont he child of course but generally
one session of an hour where mum stays
one where mum stays and then leaves child for an hour
one where child on own for an hour anything after that is charged at normal hourly rate

lov EKate