Do you use a childminder?

[tigwig]

I am almost registered as a childminder and have had an enquiry for before & after school care. The children are at school all day (apart from school hols obviously) and I wondered do other people's childminders charge for the hours while they are at school?
I only ask because I hadn't planned to but then I thought if the child had an accident or was too unwell for school then it would probably be me who had to pick them up!
I would appreciate your views on this please.

[redcrx]

ok, i dont use a childminder but if my child needed collecting from school (if it was really impossible for me to collect them) then Id expect to pay for those extra hours but i wouldnt pay for 9-3.30 every day just on the offchance that i may need it.

[chrissa1]

My daughter who is Nursery Nurse but now works for P&O Cruises on Ventura as a member of the Youth Crew says that in her opinion, if the children are not directly in your care, ie at school, but you are expected to pick them up after school and have the responsibility to be there if needed in an emergency, then you should charge half the hourly charge per day and if you are needed, charge the full hourly rates for however long you have responsibility for the child.

Hope this helps.

[smudge742]

My Mum is a childminder and she has some kids before and after school. She charges only for the hours she has them, and is available if they are ill and need picking up from school. In cases like that, she charges extra if she has had to fetch them. Ask around other childminders in your area and find out what they all do.

[sunflower68]

tig wig a good child minder (like mine lol) should only charge 2.50-3pounds per hour and that isfor the hours child is actually there. In the holidays she does not charge although she could if she felt like it ask for some kind of retainer fee.
Do you feel the mum would be unable to go to the school should she get a call from them? I think most mums would drop every thing to be at the school gates in an emergency.

[joannie10]

I dont know the rates but my sister used to childmind up until about a year ago. She would only charge for the time she was looking after the children. If the child had an accident or became unwell it was the parent that was contacted. If my sister was able to help out with other cover while the child was perhaps off school or during school holidays then she charged for that time.

[=rizla=]

Chrissa1, just a thought, you say you should charge 1/2 the hourly rate 'just in case' what if other companies followed the same principle, say the RAC, or British gas did the same. What does your average gas fitter or car mechanic charge per hour? �20??(would love to find one that cheap), so you get insurance with them, and they charge you 1/2 their rate/hour for this, so thats 24hrs*30 days a month=720hours*�10=�7200/month, you'd be happy to pay this would you?

Hope this helps.

[lynbrown]

You would only charge for those times you have the children. Extra hours to cover illness should be negotiated on a one off basis. Our childminder charges half rate during school holiday and even charged us for Christmas day! Thats a bit mean.