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Post by bubbly on Oct 29, 2007 17:10:44 GMT
I'm currently setting my charges. I know what I'm going to charge for my hourly daytime rate but can I ask for advice on before/after school care charges? Before-school children would only be with me for approx 1 hour so I thought it best to stick with charging my daytime hourly rate. I don't want to put parents off by charging too much for such a short period. However, I'm unsure what's best for after-school care. Is it best to charge one amount per session or would sticking with my daytime hourly rate be the best option for all my care?
Any advice would be much appreciated as a parent has expressed an interest in after-school care for a couple of evenings per week.
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Post by angeldelight on Oct 29, 2007 17:23:53 GMT
Hello and welcome to the forum
I charge the same for after school - my hourly rate is the same no matter what time of the day it is
But I will not mind for less than 8 hours it is not worth my while
So if I get a child who is coming for an hour every day after school that would be 5 hours But I charge for 8
I have never ever been questioned about it and I always explain before a parent comes to see me
I found that some parents only wanted 2 or 3 days for an hour each time That was just a waste of time and no good to me at all
At least with 8 hours I know where I stand
I know some of the girls on here now do the same and it works for them too
Apart from that my hourly rate is always the same
I am sure the others will give you advice
Your business though so it is up to you
Good luck
Angel xx
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Post by sarahnev707 on Oct 29, 2007 19:45:53 GMT
Hi! I tend to charge a bit less for morning and after school cos I'm competing with 2 local after school clubs and I've got to be competitive..... It's difficult cos if you cook a full meal, it's working out that you don't make a huge amount unless they stay until 6.... but some parents come early just to save a few pounds on an hourly rate.... No easy answer! Sarahx
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Post by smartimartie on Oct 29, 2007 21:19:51 GMT
Hi Bubbly, I,m new to the forum but have been registered for just over 3 years. I have found that I could 'sell' my 3 after school places for over 5's under 8's slot over and over again. I currently have a flat fee. This is for picking up the child, this could be at the end of the school day at 3 or after they have finished their afterschool activity at 4.30. I then feed the children - they sit down to eat at 5. Regardless of when I pick them up or when the parent collects them or if the child eats, this flat fee is charged - much much much easier when billing. I present the bill at the beginning of each calender month for payment within the next seven days. As the payment is made in advance you know that at the end of the month you are not going to be left empty handed!! And it does happened. It also helps when a parent says that they don't need you that day as the day is already booked and paid for. If you think about it, if you were running a Nursery or an after school club - if you didn't turn up you'd still need to pay. Talking money can be embarrassing. Making mistakes on the bill can be a pain as well so by making it a flat fee regardless of all the various differences in the Parent/child needs cuts down on this. I usually review contracts every Aug/Sept as it is a new School year - and it what you decide on does work - change it! Don't be afraid of saying to your mindee's Grown ups - this isn't working for me I would like to make some changes as we review this contract. I have and have retained ALL my mindee's as I changed from hourly to flat fee. E-mail me if you want to know what that fee is down in Torbay.
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Post by smartimartie on Oct 29, 2007 21:23:12 GMT
I meant to say if it does not work change it.
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Post by bubbly on Oct 30, 2007 7:20:25 GMT
Thanks everyone for being so helpful The 2 local schools in my area seem to charge £6.50 per session for after-school care, so obviously I'd need to undercut them. I was thinking a flat fee would be easier to manage. Would it be best to stick with the same fee irrespective of whether a child has an evening meal or not and put the cost through my expenses? Or should I charge a higher flat fee if a meal is to be provided and then put it through my expenses? Umm, confusing indeed! Smartiemartie, I'd be very interested in what the flat fee is in Torbay but I'm literally about to fly out the door so I'll PM you later. Thanks once again (being a novice isn't easy ;D)
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Post by mel on Oct 30, 2007 10:08:50 GMT
It is very difficult. If you do want to undercut, don't sell yourself short and find out first if the two after school provisions are full. If they are, you could probably charge the same or slightly more if the demand is there
Mel x
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Post by buildingblocks on Nov 1, 2007 20:37:32 GMT
I charge a higher rate of £4 an hour for before and after school children (normal fee is £3 or £3.25 depending on hours attended). But I also charge a minimum of three hours a day so parents pay £12 a day whether there for 1 hour or 3 hours. I have a parent whose child comes some days for just 1 and a quarter hours sometimes 3 and a quarter hours .
The three hours can be split before and after school so 1 hour before and 2 hour after would class as three hours for the day (hope this makes sense)
one of my familes has two children with me one she pays my occasional care rate of £5 and hour but this is as she is very rarely with me her son is at the fees above. Her son is often at Breakfast club at school (mums pays £5 a term for this to the school) but is still willing to pay me for after school at min 3 hours.
She is a single mum with four children two of whom are with me and I charge extra for breakfast and a cooked tea if they are with me after 5.30. She has no problem with my fees. Both her children are over 8 so not in my numbers and so I don't charge a retainer unless they are on a weeks holiday.
The mum who did complain was mum who needs space full time so has to pay £6 a day retainer (half of normal fees) to keep space open for 4 yr old at full time school and who I will work till 10pm on Friday and 12 - 10pm on Sunday (normal fees and not my weekend fee charge lol)
Don't under sell yourself and rememebr school age children eat more lol
lo veKate
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Post by susi513 on Nov 2, 2007 14:33:54 GMT
Think carefully before dropping your fee to beat the after school club - you may have other advantages which would appeal to parents. For example our after school club charges £7 per day for regular users. I charge £12 per day (now £50 for full week and i've done £10 a day for siblings). I thought I'd have to drop my fee to keep getting after schoolers. Having seen a list of children on their notice board (surely not respecting confidentiality!) - a large proportion of their children have been in my care at some time or another so on first glance its a bit worrying. However I have parents who have tried the club and come back to me and others who use the club on certain days and me on others.
Things that make parents choose me over the club - - they can choose to book a cooked dinner (costing extra £1.80) - if they don't have a cooked dinner they get a decent snack - I take to/from activities like brownies, football training etc - some younger children haven't coped with the bustle of the after school club - after school club is too noisy for homework (so's my place sometimes but parents feel atmosphere & level of support is better with me) - having a place with me gives them priorty in summer/school holidays - our after school club doesn't provide a breakfast or holiday care. - I'm open 15 mins longer than the after school club
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Post by clairemiranda on Nov 2, 2007 19:40:05 GMT
I only provide care to 5-11 year olds before & after school and in the holidays. I charge £4.50 per hour (or part thereof) from 6.50-8.50am, and 3-6pm, plus £1 for breakfast and £1 for dinner.
The after-school club charge £8.70 per session, so for 3 hours I am a lot more expensive at £13.50, but it doesn't put people off. I feel they get a good deal for the flexibility that I can offer. If they don't like the price then they can look elsewhere, but all other CM's in my area charge about the same and a lot of them wouldn't even bother with a kiddie for just a few hours here and there but it suits me.
The after-school club is full-booked anyway !!!!
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Post by linda on Nov 3, 2007 12:54:29 GMT
I dont agree that you should have to undercut the school clubs and nurserys ect My school club chages 6pounds and is next door to my house but i charge 7.50 for an after school session which is normally from 3.15 until the child is picked up i charge a flat rate sometimes they may be picked up at 4.30 5.00 the latest at the moment is 5.15. I do not give tea as such for any after schools but at about 4 o clock they all have toast/sandwiches fruit a buiscuit and a drink, I give tea to some of the fulltimers which is sometimes a bit awkward however i have a helper the ones i tend to give tea to are the babies who cant last till the parent picks them up . Hope this helps . Linda
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Post by bubbly on Nov 5, 2007 22:07:38 GMT
Thanks everyone. You've all been very helpful and offered some good advice.
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Post by buildingblocks on Nov 6, 2007 13:50:59 GMT
I only provide care to 5-11 year olds before & after school and in the holidays. I charge £4.50 per hour (or part thereof) from 6.50-8.50am, and 3-6pm, plus £1 for breakfast and £1 for dinner. how do you find this works as I keep thinking I may go down this route at some point lov eKate
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sandra79
Silver Member
Hopefully be registered before spring!
Posts: 32
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Post by sandra79 on Nov 8, 2007 11:32:10 GMT
Hi Bubbly, Where abouts in cambridgeshire are you. I am in March and am at the moment doing the ICP course at Witchford. sandrax
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Post by bubbly on Nov 8, 2007 16:42:38 GMT
Hi Bubbly, Where abouts in cambridgeshire are you. I am in March and am at the moment doing the ICP course at Witchford. sandrax Sandra, I sent you a PM
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