Term time only help with fees.

[bellacat]

Hi everyone,

I have a potential LO starting in the Spring. Mum is a teacher and will only want term time only. If you have term time only contracts can you lovely ladies / handsome men advise me what do you charge as a retainer for the school hols?

Love Childminding Forum.

[sarah707]

Some charge half ... some don't charge and work with holiday only children.

it's up to you

[The Juggler]

i don't charge - i prefer a quieter time in the hols

[mummyme]

Hi there, Both my little ones are term time only as their mums are teachers. I don't charge for the holidays as I personally think its too much to ask for. One of the parents even offered to pay me and I turned it down. It keeps parents happy and Im certainly happy to have just had 6 weeks child free. Its up to you though. You would be completely within your rights to charge.

Good luck x

[JazzyL]

I charge half fees for school holidays, as I am able to have their child if they need me (more often than not they don't need me but they have the peace of mind that their place is on standby). I couldn't afford to work term-time only and our local school holidays vary slightly. Good Luck x

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I don't charge for holidays - I get school age children to fill the spaces or have time off

If you want a steady flow of money you could always divide the term time costs by 12

[Beetlejuice]

If you want a steady flow of money you could always divide the term time costs by 12

This is what I've done with my new child. She's only going to be with me for a year as she's in Year 6 and mum is a teacher so we've split the fees by 11 (as it's 11 months til next July!) so I get a steady income even during the holidays. Previously I charged half fee for one family and when they left I replaced them with a term time only child and holiday only child so it worked out well.

[miffy]

I charge a small weekly retainer but I do have children who come just in the holidays only so that makes up my money.

Miffy xx

[catswhiskers]

I charge 2 weeks at half fee during the summer holidays.

So for 11 weeks there is no fee.

[Carol M]

I don't charge for school hols for TTO children either.
I do charge a slightly higher rate for TTO contracts tho which compensates for the loss of 13 potential weeks pay.
I do have school holiday only children and ad hoc children for the hols so I do work but I like not having the under 5's with the older ones.
Carol xx

[rosebud]

I offer parents a choice.

They can either pay full price in term time and 50% in school holidays and their place will remain open during the holidays and they will just need to top it up to full fee if they use it.
If they don't want to pay in the holidays I charge a slightly higher rate for term time only contracts to compensate. I worked out how much I would get over 46 weeks (this takes into account my 4 weeks holiday at zero and parents 4 weeks at 50%) and then divided it by 39 weeks. In this instance the place is not available in the holidays and I have the option of filling the place with another child if I can.

The money is about the same either way but it offers parents some flexibility. The second option works better for me if I fill the place with another child as I earn a bit extra but to be honest I prefer to keep the holidays quiet if I can.

[Toothfairy]

All my families are teachers and I charge half fees for the holidays. I am available to work but they don't need me, so I charge.

It means I get the holidays off which is fab but I know they could ring at anytime during the holiday period for some ad hoc care, I just ask for 24hrs notice.

Because I like having a steady wage, I add together all the full fees and then all the half fees and divide by 12. That way I get the same amount each month

[HMT81]

If you want a steady flow of money you could always divide the term time costs by 12

This is what I do too x

[sarahstanbridge]

If you want a steady flow of money you could always divide the term time costs by 12[/QUOTE]

i do this as i dont charge for holidays xx

[Mummits]

I don't charge for the holidays as I don't want to work them (though I do the odd few days here and there if the parents have a particular need). I charge a bit more per hour than some, but if parents compare the annual cost they realise they are getting a much better deal than paying 48 or 52 weeks a year. I split my payments equally but ask for August fees before school breaks up in July if they want a place held for September.

[Mrs Pootle]

I don't charge for the hols, but I do request that they pay at the end of the term for the start of the new term so that I know they are coming back. This has worked well for me so far.

[mrs c]

I do charge half pay for school holidays. All my teacher parents are more than happy to pay that. I do find out when they are away during this time and try to take mine to fit in so I am available for the other weeks should they need me,