fees when at pre-school?

**zoe compton** · 09-04-2008, 08:08 AM

Hi, Can you please help?

My husband and I are having (rather heated) discussions on what I should charge if the child I am looking after goes to pre-school. He says full fees because the child is still taking a place. I wasn't going to charge a fee at all if I didn't have them but he says I've got to rememmber I'm running a business. Do we meet in the middle and charge half fees?

What do you ladies do?

**littletreasures** · 09-04-2008, 08:15 AM

If I take and collect I charge full fee.

I only go to no fee once they start school.

littletreasures

**Banana** · 09-04-2008, 08:16 AM

as above

x

**angeldelight** · 09-04-2008, 08:19 AM

Yes I still charge

The child is taking up a place

What happens if the child is ill and sent home - if you are not getting paid would the parent expect you to go and collect ? I am sure she would so yes still charge
Say if pre- school is closed - no heating or something - parent would expect you to be avilable?

Must say before I used this forum I used to think the same as yourself and never charged - silly me

But I do now

Angel xx

**zoe compton** · 09-04-2008, 08:20 AM

thanks for the help ladies! humph maybe the husband is right sometimes then!!

(not that i would admit it to him)

**angeldelight** · 09-04-2008, 08:20 AM

No whatever you do act like you knew the answer all along haha

xxx

**TillyTwinkle** · 09-04-2008, 08:21 AM

I do the same as little treasures and charge full fee if i take and collect!

Hope this helps.

Tilly.xx

**anneriddington** · 09-04-2008, 08:28 AM

You could butter up you hubby and say that you think you'll go with his suggestion, but save the brownie points you'll earn for the next "debate"

**zoe compton** · 09-04-2008, 08:32 AM

sounds like your well and truly practised at this art of deception! but i like the idea a lot!!

**anneriddington** · 09-04-2008, 08:34 AM

A mans polished ego is always better than a hurt one I find

**Lottie** · 09-04-2008, 08:39 AM

Yep I am going to charge full fee still as well. The way you should look at it is teachers get paid even during school holidays, when other children are ill, yada yada, so why not you.
The child takes up a space that could be used by another child who is paying and the bottom line is you are responsible for the child whilst it is at pre-school and in your care. You will be the one who has to dash down there to collect child if ill etc etc.

Basically what the other ladies have said.

**mum2two** · 09-04-2008, 08:45 AM

Same as everyone else - full fees. I must say - it's good you thought of it now. It hadn't entered my head when I started & first mindee was full time, but at playschool every morning too. I wasn't until his first day that I thought of it, and spoke to mum, and she wasn't happy to pay full fee. I agreed a very reduced rate for her but it soon went into my policies!!

All these things...

Kelly x

**fionamal** · 09-04-2008, 09:15 AM

Im the same, charge full fees as they are taking up a full time place.

**Noodles** · 09-04-2008, 09:36 AM

I charge full fees for the little one i have as she needs full time care in the holidays so i cannot give the space to anyone else

**Kelly** · 09-04-2008, 11:53 AM

I always find this a really hard one, most parents assume when their child starts nursery their childcare fees will go down a bit, only to find out that although they are getting free nursery places they still have to pay their childminder!!!

I have two children starting nursery this year and I am still considering what I am going to do re fees. I would like to be able to not charge (personal thing), I have decided I will deffinatly not charge full fee though, although I will drop off/collect and I will be available for all holidays/school closures I will not collect if the child is unwell.

Kelly

**tulip0803** · 09-04-2008, 05:22 PM

I charged the full fee if they expected the place to be available in the school holidays.

**Heaven Scent** · 09-04-2008, 05:36 PM

All the childminders in my area charge full because despite sayine that they won't be available for pick ups - parents soon forget and its another thing to fall out over.

**SonnysMummy** · 09-04-2008, 07:28 PM

What do you do if you don't take and collect the child?

Kelly

**Twinkles** · 09-04-2008, 07:32 PM

Yep full fees whether or not I collect.

NEVER admit to hubby you're wrong. Just tell him he didn't understand your argument

**Monkey1** · 09-04-2008, 07:33 PM

I only collect one lad from nursery and as his mum didn't want to pay when he was there, so i refused to take him in the morning

Plus i managed to get another mindee, term time only 8 till 1 on the two days he goes to nursery, plus i charge her full wack in the holidays, plus i get retainer from the other one!