susi513
23-04-2008, 06:35 PM
Okay, so been toying with idea for a while but now got my first member and family no.2 is about to sign up :D
I have a number of families that don't need long-term childcare but just odd weeks in school holidays or a few days here & there in term-time. So bit of a pia to fill in all the paperwork last minute, don't want to make parents late for their work. Also having done arrangements like 1 day for 3 siblings, for example, its a lot of paperwork which cuts into the fees meaning that sometimes its not worth doing!
So now parents can register their child with me - they fill in all the permission forms and help me compile a child profile just as I do for long-term care. But instead of paying a months deposit they pay £20 registration fee to cover my time and costs of enrolling their child. I did a bit of checking and it seems some childminders have started charging everyone a registration fee of up to £35, in view of the extra paperwork that wasn't required years ago - especially with the new EYFS requirements coming. But I'm not planning on charging this to long-term contracts, they already pay me a months deposit which can't be easy to find for most families.
Once registered, they get one free session of up to 3 hours (usually before OR after school). Then, when they need me, they just give me a booking form (with payment) or phone/email to see if I've got a place available. They know being registered does not guarantee my availability - if they want that they have to book a long-term place instead. I will offer a reduced renewal rate each year which will cover the cost of re-doing all the forms to ensure they are updated.
I'm giving the child a laminated membership card and some road safety stuff I got free off council and the parent gets a wallet of all the extra forms (medicine permission, booking form, change of address etc) and the laminated ICE cards. (In Case of Emergency ... my child is with my childminder, please contact x)
When long-term mindees leave, I'm going to give them automatic free membership as I've had a few that have come back for occasional care - so parents can go on courses, meetings, hospital appointments etc
I have a number of families that don't need long-term childcare but just odd weeks in school holidays or a few days here & there in term-time. So bit of a pia to fill in all the paperwork last minute, don't want to make parents late for their work. Also having done arrangements like 1 day for 3 siblings, for example, its a lot of paperwork which cuts into the fees meaning that sometimes its not worth doing!
So now parents can register their child with me - they fill in all the permission forms and help me compile a child profile just as I do for long-term care. But instead of paying a months deposit they pay £20 registration fee to cover my time and costs of enrolling their child. I did a bit of checking and it seems some childminders have started charging everyone a registration fee of up to £35, in view of the extra paperwork that wasn't required years ago - especially with the new EYFS requirements coming. But I'm not planning on charging this to long-term contracts, they already pay me a months deposit which can't be easy to find for most families.
Once registered, they get one free session of up to 3 hours (usually before OR after school). Then, when they need me, they just give me a booking form (with payment) or phone/email to see if I've got a place available. They know being registered does not guarantee my availability - if they want that they have to book a long-term place instead. I will offer a reduced renewal rate each year which will cover the cost of re-doing all the forms to ensure they are updated.
I'm giving the child a laminated membership card and some road safety stuff I got free off council and the parent gets a wallet of all the extra forms (medicine permission, booking form, change of address etc) and the laminated ICE cards. (In Case of Emergency ... my child is with my childminder, please contact x)
When long-term mindees leave, I'm going to give them automatic free membership as I've had a few that have come back for occasional care - so parents can go on courses, meetings, hospital appointments etc