What should I charge

[kentminding]

I have been asked to look after 4 children.. The mums works 18 hours per week and wants me to have a 2 and a half year old and then her 3 after schoolies.
I set my hourly rate at £3.60 for one child but do not know how much discount to give for the siblings.
Mum starts work at 2 pm to 8pm 2 days and 8am to 2pm the other.
I am wondering if you have any opinions in if I should charge for the hours they are at school or not.

Please help.

[sarahnev707]

The way I play it is you should charge for when they are at school if you are responsible for them while they are there ie if you are number one on the emergency contact list at school

Sarahx

[kentminding]

That makes sense and sounds fair.

Thanks for your advice

[lisaurry]

Hi there,

I have a family that I look after. I have a baby who I charge full fees, then I have knocked off 25p per hour for the 2 after schoolers. Not alot I know, but better than nothing!!

I only charge them for the time I have them though. Maybe I'm a bit soft? I've not long been minding (since March 07), and the fees has been the hardest thing to work out I think.

Good luck!
Lisa x

[susi513]

Its not usual to charge while the child is in school unless the child is 4 and attending fewer than 10 sessions weekly, ie still counted in your under fives numbers. As you can only have up to 3 under 5s, its usual to charge while at preschool especially if they want the place in holidays you can't offer the slot to another family. However When they are 5 you don't have an option to offer the place to another child as all the over-5s will be in school.

If you do agree to be an emergency contact its usual to charge just for the time used rather than a weekly retainer fee. But I don't think its unreasonable to charge a small fee for this service. Because while its clearly a pia for parent to have to leave work its also a pia for cm to drop everything to collect a child from school - when I've been called its when we've just sat down for lunch or just got everyone off to sleep! Its vital to be clear with the parent about exactly which situations you are willing to collect the child. For example if the school wants the child collected because they've vomited or got diarrhoea you shouldn't really be collecting as this puts your other mindees at risk. A parent might expect you to collect under ANY circumstances if they are paying you a fee. IMO if a child is too unwell for school they're too unwell for childcare too. But in some circumstances it might be better for the child to wait/rest with childminder instead of at school while parent makes arrangements to leave work or get a relative to collect.

You don't have to give any sibling discounts but there are many ways to do this. Some charge as little as £1 for 4th child (!don't know how they make ends meet themselves!), thinking parent couldn't afford them otherwise. However, don't forget to suggest parent checks if eligible for childcare tax credits! Rather than offer a specified hourly discount I've looked at each family's requirements, considering how many hours they're booking over a week and rounded the weekly bill down a bit. On paper the youngest child is charged at full fees with discount shared beween older children.

[kentminding]

great advice. I like to get advice as I am too soft and a second opinion really helps.

Thank you all

[buildingblocks]

I don't do sibling discounts anymore as they are taking up a space of a full fee child. I learnt this the hard way.

you don't state the ages of the school age children. If they are in full time school they pay my before and after school rate and if htey were at nursery preschool then they pay full fee for the contracted hours.

The other option is she pays for the space for a full day (bear in mind that they will be taking up a full time space) but pays half fee for the hours not used - and she must give you the hours by a set date and anything over those is subject to you being available)

love Kate

[angeldelight]

Good luck whatever you decide to charge

Angel xx

[miffy]

I agree with Kate - I don't give sibling discounts anymore and haven't been asked to do so for ages.

What you charge is up to you - but you only have so many places available and parents can get help with childcare costs so don't sell yourself short

Good luck

Miffy

[thesmarts]

Hi - I do 20% discount for siblings. The youngest pays full price, all others get the discount on my usual hourly rate.

[june]

Im with Kate and Miffy on this one, been caught out using all available spaces at reduced rate!!!! Not anymore . June

[buildingblocks]

susi513 said:

Its not usual to charge while the child is in school unless the child is 4 and attending fewer than 10 sessions weekly, ie still counted in your under fives numbers.

I have been made aware of someone in our area who is charging parents for a whole day while there child is in full time school. polaces required were for one under 5 space and one over 5 space and parent was informed that she would have to pay for both spaces from 8 - 6pm needless to say parent didn't take the space.

love Kate