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View Full Version : What time do you all close for the evening? anyone have 5.30 finish or earlier?



Lilylulu
19-01-2013, 08:07 AM
Hi all,
We start early with little ones in from 7.15am onwards, for the last year we have had everyone leave by 5.30pm. One of my part timers has now streched her hours and is pretty much telling me that they will pay until 6pm as they are going to be late sometimes so they will have it covered just incase (they already asked 2 weeks ago and i told them we finsh at 5.30). Do you think it's unreasonable to put my foot down. We expanded our hours once before as a favour and then it ended up we had someone on other late on every night, as if you do it for one family, others then ask - these parents work on call too - so the 6pm finish is not likely to be the end of it, we have experienced it before from the same workplace. All our places are full and we are turning people away (it never rains but it pours - its either this or a complete drought!!) so I dont really need to pander to them but I do have a soft spot for this little one. Not sure if I am being too harsh. (its not usually me that covers the end of the day either - I would be stitching my mum up for this as soon as she is back from her holidays as i skip off home when we are down to the last few and leave her to finish off.)

FussyElmo
19-01-2013, 08:20 AM
I will work till 6 and I do. Mum doesnt finish till 530 and it takes her 30 mins to get through to me.

In one way I see what you are saying and if you really dont want to do it then say no. I do think the parent is trying to do the best by you aswell - that least she isnt just expecting to turn up late she does want to pay for the extra.

SYLVIA
19-01-2013, 09:01 AM
At least the parents are telling you upfront that sometimes it will be 6. My hours are 8 to 6 but according to how much I need work I will adjust them. I have a child who doesn't go till 6.45. He started before I realised I didn't want to work that late so new ones are told 8 till 6.

QualityCare
19-01-2013, 09:24 AM
I tell all parents 5.30 but like Fussyelmo have one where mum finishes at 5.30 and has 1/2hr drive but its an after school two days a week only so not to bad. I think 5.30 is reasonable as if there are problems on the road, last minute crisis at work, they are still gone by 6.00. Do you know how often its likely to be 6.00 they say occasionally could be once a week which wouldn't be too bad is it this family on call or others, your other families wouldn't need to know you have one until 6 and don't offer it to others new or existing. If you do do it just be careful that as they have offered to pay until 6 they don't have the attitude well l've paid till 6 l'll collect then, how about you charge them an enhanced rate for the extra on the occasions they use it, that way they won't abuse it, may look elsewhere which may be difficult to find if you are turning families away.

Lilylulu
19-01-2013, 09:36 AM
Thanks for your replies - A lot of our families know each other, we are near the hospital and they have mostly recommended us within their network of friends - so its not easy to keep it quiet as they are even in the same department at work, socialise together and mostly live in the hospital accomodation near each other (just some have partners who pick up earlier). I think we are going to have to concede or lose this little one - but deciding where and how to draw the line to prevent it becoming a later night every night is tricky. We want to make sure it is us managing the business and not the combined power of our parents. Its nice to have business from recommendations but has tricky aspects too, as if one parent isn't happy with you, you risk it going viral :/

loocyloo
19-01-2013, 10:06 AM
i work until 5.30, and until 6 on a friday, but that LO is usually collected at just gone 5.30. i tell my parents that i need to finish at 5.30 as my children ( or me! ) have activities after that and i need to be able to take them. one mum asked if i couldn't take her LO with me, and i said no, as i am part of a multi way swap and can have myself, DD, and up to 5 boys to take to football and can't fit any one else in the car!

(obviously in an emergency i would, but i'm not telling them that!)

scottishlass
19-01-2013, 10:06 AM
I finish at 5pm every night except one where I have siblings till 7pm. I do like my 5pm finish and wouldn't do more than one late night!

Tinkerbell1979
19-01-2013, 10:17 AM
Officially 6.30pm but the 2 I have go at 5.30pm

PixiePetal
19-01-2013, 10:33 AM
basic hours 8-5.30 but flexible for parents too. Outside these hours is if I am happy to do them but not the norm( not for parents to get their shopping before coming to collect :))!!

singingcactus
19-01-2013, 10:49 AM
I currently work between the hours of 0545 and 2000. I used to work 0745 till 1715. I will go back to standard hours on my next posting. This is the first place I charge a premium rate for extra hours though. I charge £3an hour between 0730 and 1730, then £3 per 30 minutes for the other hours. I don't want to work stupid hours, neither does the parent, but I am willing in this case to accept a premium fee in exchange. The boys that use these hours are pretty awesome though which makes the difference.

jackandjill
19-01-2013, 12:19 PM
I currently work 7.45am to 5pm mon to fri which I love these hours, however in the past I have worked from 6am to 8 pm but wouldn't want to go back to them hours.
I dont really take new children on that want really late finishes.

Mouse
19-01-2013, 12:21 PM
I used to close at 5pm, but now have a lo who is here till 5.30pm. He's like part of the family though, so we tidy up when the others go home at 5pm, put the TV on & sit watching The Chase! It's like having a little nephew here, not like working for that extra half an hour. My children play with him, DH plays with him. When mum gets here it's all very relaxed & I really don't mind having him until then.

manjay
19-01-2013, 12:58 PM
I used to close at 5pm, but now have a lo who is here till 5.30pm. He's like part of the family though, so we tidy up when the others go home at 5pm, put the TV on & sit watching The Chase! It's like having a little nephew here, not like working for that extra half an hour. My children play with him, DH plays with him. When mum gets here it's all very relaxed & I really don't mind having him until then.

I could have written that except we like pointless:laughing:. I too close at 5 except for one who like Mouse says is part of the family. Mum is so grateful that I have her that I could practically do anything with her. I only agreed to the 5:30 finish on the proviso that my house turns back into my home at 5pm. My own children need that to happen.

I would say maybe ask your Mum (as you say it would be her doing the extra half an hour). I guess it depends on individual circumstances really as if I didn't have young children then working until 6 would probably not bother me at all. Having a little one myself I need to finish earlier to be able to spend some time with him before bed.

Lilylulu
19-01-2013, 01:29 PM
I could have written that except we like pointless:laughing:. I too close at 5 except for one who like Mouse says is part of the family. Mum is so grateful that I have her that I could practically do anything with her. I only agreed to the 5:30 finish on the proviso that my house turns back into my home at 5pm. My own children need that to happen.

I would say maybe ask your Mum (as you say it would be her doing the extra half an hour). I guess it depends on individual circumstances really as if I didn't have young children then working until 6 would probably not bother me at all. Having a little one myself I need to finish earlier to be able to spend some time with him before bed.

Didn't want to disturb her holiday - she is on an extended holiday until the end of February - its funny that the parents left it until the day after she left to ask - they obviously think I am a soft touch! I might agree to do occsional lates until end of March and then say we will review it after she gets back which gives them a months notice if she decides against it.

jillplum
19-01-2013, 04:52 PM
My normal hours are 7.30 till 5.30 but I have just taken on child for 4months as her minder is going on maternity leave. This will mean 2 finishes at 6.30 and one at 6pm. I wouldnt want to do this full time or permanently but the fees will pay for half out summer holiday :D so I will do it!

izzy23
21-01-2013, 04:03 PM
I work 6.45am to 6pm, however I just do before and after school places. No way I'd work that as a full shift with a pre schooler anymore. I charge a premium rate for time used before 8am as this would be my normal start time and is what is stated on my business info etc. I only did the early start for a family who were on my books before the need for the earlier start occurred. The after schooler is usually gone by 5.45pm at the latest.
Its entirely up to you though isnt it, depends on your circumstances, whether you have a young family of your own and all that. There's no right or wrong and being our own business at the end of the day we can choose how flexible we want to be.
I want and appreciate some time with my own kids in the early evening, especially my youngest who needs a lot more support with school work etc than my teenager.

rachelle
21-01-2013, 05:06 PM
I would say to her that you appreciate her being up front about the possibility of being late but that you'd prefer to keep to the 5.30pm finish and add any extra time worked (up until 6pm) to the following month's invoice as you realise it's not always preventable. THis implies you'll do it if needed but would rather not!

funemnx
21-01-2013, 05:21 PM
I better in the morning than at night so don't mind my 7a.m. starts but won't (can't) work later than 5.30, although I used to work till 6.30, I really couldn't do it now that I'm an old dear! :laughing:

Tatjana
21-01-2013, 06:26 PM
I work 7.40am - 6.40pm and find it far too early and late!! I think this particular mindee won't be with me in sept when full time school starts. I won't be willing to do these hours again, it impacts too much on my own family.

Nickii
21-01-2013, 09:11 PM
Hi I'm new to this but have been minding since 2004, I can work some evening till 8/9pm and start at 7pm x

Helcatt
21-01-2013, 11:52 PM
My core hours are 8-6

We had our first fulltime enquiry (in years) for last Jan, so extended to 6:30pm as couldn't turn them away

We have ended up extending hours for a current client, but I would not take this on from new

This one now does 7:30am - 7pm

The reason I accepted it, was that it means we set up around her in the morning, so forces me to be downstairs before the majority arrive

Also, I use the last half an hour to clear up around the late finish. Again, this forces me to do the clear up straight away, otherwise I have a habit of putting my girls to bed first, then look around online and then at some stupid time, realise that I have not cleared up and need to before I go to bed

In my policies I do state that after 5pm, the house reverts back to being my home. They DO NOT have planned activities, they eat, help tidy up etc, but I am not keeping them busy in the way that I do during the day

Its either accept this or take them home by 5pm

HX

TAZ
22-01-2013, 12:03 AM
I generally work 8am - 6pm but am generally fairly flexible as long as I can fit in around all the various clubs that my children do!!! Parents have always managed to accomodate if I need to change the hours a bit, but then I've always done the same for them:)

LauraS
22-01-2013, 12:15 AM
I do at the moment. I start at 7.20 and am contracted to work until 5.00. Both.of.my.families.tend to collect when work is finished rather than.contracted, though, so on some days (maybe once a week) I finish at four, four thirty. Again, once or twice a week parents run late and I finish at five thirty, five forty five.

I don't mind that, it seems like.give and take and the early finishes when they happen are wonderful.

LauraS
22-01-2013, 12:19 AM
Ps. Just to add, those aren't my closing times, just my current operating times. I advertise flexible hours and was working shifts between 6am and 8pm for one family until recently.

All but one of my families.have come.to.me for.unsocial hours at the start and I wouldn't have them if I hadn't.offered that.

helengreen13
22-01-2013, 06:54 AM
I do 6.30am to 8.30pm. I too charge and extra £1.50 ph for hours outside of 8am-6pm. No other childminders are prepared to do the early start or late finish whiere i live and, at the time was struggling for work and to get established, now that we have enough work are fully established I don't want to get rid of the two mindees that do these hours. I have made it clear to mums and dads of mindees.

that these mindees will have to fit around my family after 6. So the 5 year old helps me make pack ups for my 3 and helps with dinner etc.

Kiddleywinks
22-01-2013, 08:31 AM
half 5?! I wish :laughing:

7,7,6,7, & 6 for me :(

littlelollies
22-01-2013, 08:39 AM
6 till 6.30 for me all week a little busier with schools shut too!!!!