Ellisha
18-03-2015, 01:04 PM
Someone I know is just about to give birth to her second child and has asked me about childcare for this time next year. She has asked for 1 or 2 days a week for her 1 year old and possibly her 4 year old. I have just started out so have no mindees at present and have 1 EYs space until September when my daughter starts school so frees another EY space.
I feel like I'm happy to hold a place for her 1 year old with a deposit paid, as it would only mean holding a space from September to March and I can have one other EYs child whilst holding the space. Not sure about holding the space for her 4 year old though as it would take up 2 of my EYs spaces for a year for those days. What would you do? Tell them to come back closer to the time to see if the spaces were available? Ask for a retainer for her 4 year old - and how much retainer is reasonable? Or ask her if she can send her 4 (who has just turned 3) year old one day a week whilst she is on maternity leave to hold a space?
I really want to help, but only if I'm not taken advantage of! I'm aware that she might even decide not to go back to work and I could be holding spaces for nothing!
I feel like I'm happy to hold a place for her 1 year old with a deposit paid, as it would only mean holding a space from September to March and I can have one other EYs child whilst holding the space. Not sure about holding the space for her 4 year old though as it would take up 2 of my EYs spaces for a year for those days. What would you do? Tell them to come back closer to the time to see if the spaces were available? Ask for a retainer for her 4 year old - and how much retainer is reasonable? Or ask her if she can send her 4 (who has just turned 3) year old one day a week whilst she is on maternity leave to hold a space?
I really want to help, but only if I'm not taken advantage of! I'm aware that she might even decide not to go back to work and I could be holding spaces for nothing!