Do I charge fees if parents don't need me in school holidays?

[Lynz08]

I think you really need to advertise your low fees. Parents will be falling over themselves to send their children to you.

Have you thought about asking the local primary schools if they would give out your information to parents.

Hi, thank you I advertised every where I could think of tbh and I was thinking of the local primary schools but now I've got these 2 new children starting with me September I'm full up :-) I could kick myself for not charging higher to begin with because it's impossible for me to increase my prices too much as I only do it once a year and this year it only went up 15p because I thought 50p was too steep! So it will take me years to reach my £3.50 an hour target lol

[jfradgley1]

I charge all of my parents retainers through the school holidays if they don't need me. If they dont like it, they're more than welcome to find someone else but it's pretty standard to charge a retainer if you are available to work!
You really are very cheap though, I'd look at pushing your hourly rate up!! Xx

[Ripeberry]

If she wants term-time only then you should charge a higher rate. At least £3.50. Don't see how you can make any money with such low rates

[Ripeberry]

Hi, thank you I advertised every where I could think of tbh and I was thinking of the local primary schools but now I've got these 2 new children starting with me September I'm full up :-) I could kick myself for not charging higher to begin with because it's impossible for me to increase my prices too much as I only do it once a year and this year it only went up 15p because I thought 50p was too steep! So it will take me years to reach my £3.50 an hour target lol

Be careful not to sell yourself too cheap. Low fees can also make parents wonder 'why'?

[munch149]

I understand that you might not want to increase your fees too high for current parents but that doesn't mean you can't change the rate for new parents. I have a policy that I never increase fees for current parents but still do so for new mindees. It might mean having different children on different rates but this will be the first time I have Increased fees in three years. I have more so only done it more so now as I was not really finding it worth my time to take on after schoolers .

[Lynz08]

If she wants term-time only then you should charge a higher rate. At least £3.50. Don't see how you can make any money with such low rates

Thankyou :-) but I do make money with my rates, I also have a second job at a primary school so I earn enough to pay bills etc

[Lynz08]

Be careful not to sell yourself too cheap. Low fees can also make parents wonder 'why'?

Thanks, yes I thought that myself but I explain to new parents why my price was low to begin with and that I will increase it every year. And once they visit me in my setting any worries they may have are gone :-) I've also had 2 parents recommend my service so I have no worries abut what they think of my service

[Lynz08]

I understand that you might not want to increase your fees too high for current parents but that doesn't mean you can't change the rate for new parents. I have a policy that I never increase fees for current parents but still do so for new mindees. It might mean having different children on different rates but this will be the first time I have Increased fees in three years. I have more so only done it more so now as I was not really finding it worth my time to take on after schoolers .

Hi, thanks for your suggestion but I would rather charge parents the same price and increase it annually, I wouldn't feel right charging parents different amounts for the same level of service and the parents are aware of my price increase and happy with it. Plus I get very easily confused and could get parents weeklies mixed up! hehe

[v 1461]

so cheap! this is a record!!!!!