charging for settling in???

**andiehanratty** · 10-11-2008, 06:10 PM

I am a new childminder and have been approached by a parent who has a little girl of 18 months old. She is a lone parent and looking to return to work but is anxious that her little girl be settled in childcare for when she goes back to work. She wants to bring her and leave her with me for short periods of time over the next few weeks to satisfy herself that the little girl will be happy to stay should i charge for this time?

When mum goes back to work she will be paying me with childcare tax credit she is currently on income support and money is tight

**yummymummy** · 10-11-2008, 06:17 PM

I would only offer settling in hours after contracts signed and usually offer up to 4 hours which I do not charge for. Funnily enough in all the years I have childminded only 1 parent has offered to pay settling in! all the others just assume it is free which luckily for them it is!

**crazybones** · 10-11-2008, 06:39 PM

I do 2, 2 hour settling in sessions free of charge. Anything after that is charged at my hourly rate. But as yummymummy says I only offer this after contracts are signed and deposit paid. I know of occasions where people have been used as an unpaid babysitter.

**charleyfarley** · 10-11-2008, 06:43 PM

I offer 2 x 2 hour sessions to settle in free of charge anything more than that parents are charged for.

Carol xx

**angeldelight** · 10-11-2008, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by charleyfarley

I offer 2 x 2 hour sessions to settle in free of charge anything more than that parents are charged for.

Carol xx

Yes I do the same

Angel xx

**Angela234** · 10-11-2008, 06:52 PM

I do up to 4 hours free how parent wants it

Angela

**andiehanratty** · 10-11-2008, 07:07 PM

thank you all!! That is really usefull i will get contract signed and then offer 4 hours as a maximum settling in time. if a maximum is not specified it is open to abuse.

**Schnakes** · 12-11-2008, 11:35 PM

Yeah - Ive done "settling in" when mum clearly had another minder lined up (was made clear to me when she picked lad up and told me that she'd been to dentist but sorry would be using x instead of me

)

Sx

**Cazz** · 13-11-2008, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by Schnakes

Yeah - Ive done "settling in" when mum clearly had another minder lined up (was made clear to me when she picked lad up and told me that she'd been to dentist but sorry would be using x instead of me

)

Sx

The cheek of some people!

I'm glad I read this, I'll make sure I state only 4 hours settling in free!

Carole x

**Mollymop** · 13-11-2008, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by crazybones

I do 2, 2 hour settling in sessions free of charge. Anything after that is charged at my hourly rate. But as yummymummy says I only offer this after contracts are signed and deposit paid. I know of occasions where people have been used as an unpaid babysitter.

I do the same

**deeb66** · 13-11-2008, 09:21 AM

I also offer 2 settling in sessions free of charge and state that further sessions will be charged at normal rate.

I do however sometimes offer further sessions without charge.....it really does depend on the circumstances.

Over the years I have found that a lot of parents don't want to pay for settling in sessions but depending on the child those free sessions are sometimes not enough.

If I find that a child needs more time then I will then offer further sessions free of charge as I would rather the child feel safe and secure before having to stay with me for a 10 hour day - and to be honest it makes it easier for me in the long run.

So if I feel that a child needs more and offer it then I don't charge but if I feel the child is ok but the parent is pushing for more then I do charge.

So each case really is based on the individual child but I initially tell the parent that they will have 2 free sessions - I don't tell them I might offer more as I know that a good chunk of them would take advantage of that.

HTH