I am fairly newly registered and have just (nov) received good for my first post registration inspection, there was only 2 minor action points and lots of positive comments
Well done, you should be proud of yourself
I have 5 children on role, 2 sets of parents are brilliant
the other 2 have made me feel uncomfortable about my charges on more than one occasion! I should say both these parents were already freinds before I cared for their little ones!
A bit late now but rule number one is never work for friends unless you are both totally able to keep work and friendship separate
My first issue is that one is alway late with my wages, despite signing a payment policy detailing charges if wages are late (ive never charged late payment fees
)
So as from jan 1st charge late fees each and every time, it soon stops the late payers! You already have it as a policy so you just need to say in writing that you will be implementing it each and every time payment is late in future. If you are using MM contracts you have the right to suspend childcare until the invoice is paid, if using ncma contracts you do not.
mum constantly moans about the cost of childcare, I charge her the least per hr £3.50 her child takes up a early yrs place 2 days a week and bill totals £46 a week, I know I cant really judge but this is nothing compared to what my own childcare bill was!
This parents bill has nothing to do with what your childcare bill was hunnie so you need to let this go, you agreed to fees as did she, some parents just moan non stop about paying fees
I let her bring her own food to save money I had said pre cooked but more than often I get a raw unpeeled potato, frozen fishfingers and veg so im cooking anyway!
Check the child's food as they come in and if it's unsuitable send parent home for what is needed. Perhaps remind parent that food should be precooked by letter first (keeping a copy in their file for future reference )
Then whenever either parent is on annual leave they both put pressure on me to take annual leave as they know I dont charge when im on holiday.
Its hard but you have to learn to say no.
I actually took a half term off this year that I was planning on having off because I felt sorry for them! I know I am my own worst enemy! I had both of them hinting for me to take time off over christmas because one of them was off and its just getting embarressing! I actually stood my ground and explained I had already had 6 wks unpaid annual leave this year so was therefore taking no more!
Well done!
The other parent had prior to contract suggested that a gradparent would help out with the children on occasion during the school holidays. I have one early years and one before and after school from this parent. I had agreed to this for the after schooler as at the time I was panicing at how I would cope during the holidays. But have now some how agreed to charging half during parent holidays for just the early years child (nothing for the school aged) and some of these holidays are during term time so im actually losing a lot of money.
You need to check your contract, if it says grandparent can have child as and when you have no leg to stand on, however if it only says school holiday time you need to implement full charge and if necessary add a copy of the contract. (probably wont happen but you never know)
This parent gets 80% of my bill paid through tax credits
Not to be rude, but it really doesn't matter where the parent gets the money from, it's not your business
My contract does state my normal hourly fee for parent holidays/occasional days off and child sickness but verbally I have been talked out of this. Grr im so cross with myself! Im worried that whenever this parent wants to save a bit of cash they will pass the kids over to the grandparents because im such a mug! If the contract says it then stick to it (unless you have verbally agreed not to).
This has really bugged me over christmas so ive decided in my next newsletter to attach my payment policy for them to read again. To let them know my planned annual leave (does anyone know if legally we have to take a certain amount?) and make a point that I wont be taking anymore other than sickness/emergencies etc and also im putting my fee's up as of april. Im considering a daily rate for anone new who comes along, im wondering if this will stop people trying to save a few quid here or there by collecting early etc.
Fees should be for contracted hours, if parents pick up early they should not be refunded as its their choice! (unless your contract says they only pay for the hours they use)
Sorry for massive post!
does anyone have any idea how I can straighten things out with these parents without falling out with them? Xxx
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