Term time & retainer fee

Hi wonder if anyone can help. Term time only contracts does anyone charge for holidays even though the child won't be in your setting? Got a parent who came for a visit and I said that I do charge half in the holidays, then they took some info about my setting away which also stated about payments and she has signed contracts stating but is now saying that it's the first she has heard about it. I don't particularly want to lose this contract but I don't want to work for next to nothing either.

I'm thinking of just saying pay term time only but pay a non refundable retainer fee, but unsure what to charge as the retainer fee. HELP!!

I have a term time only fee ... and parents don't pay a retainer for the holidays ... (except they do ... they just don't know it! )

I work it out like this .... hourly fee x 39 weeks ( term time only ) plus half fee x 13 weeks ( holiday at half fee ... or whatever you want to charge ).
Then divide total by 39 to give you an hourly term time only fee.

All you need to do then, is remember to save that amount each month to cover the holidays!
The bonus is, if they do want an extra day or two in the holidays ... They pay the termtime only fee.

Eyfs, term time only children, pay me half fees during the holidays. If they decide to come then they pay full fee for that day. Before & after school children do not pay any fees during the holidays as I do not want 'older' children in the holidays. They pay term time only.

You have to explain to mum that it's the place she is paying for (not just the care) as she probably feels she is paying you for nothing when you don't have her child. On the other hand you could charge for term time only and fill your holiday spaces with children who only need school holidays i.e. schoolies. That's what I have always done and o.k. sometimes it can be a drop in income but I like to be quieter in the holidays so I can take them out. Stick to your guns in what you decide to do (very hard I know) but the right people will respect you for running your business the way it should be.

I find it helps if you show them the total amount, full fee, it cost you to keep the space open then asking them to pay half doesn't seem so bad X and shows you are meeting them half way x

Thank you for your replies xxx

I charge a higher fee per hour but only charge for the days they use. I also ask for fees to be averaged out so I don't experience a drop in Summer.