Lucie Bugg

Childminder

Additional terms:

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Sibling discount

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There will be a reduction for each older sibling attending at the same time as their younger sibling of £1.00 per session for school age children, or £0.50 per hour for EYFS children, or school-aged children  attending during school holidays, PD days etc. 

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Bank Holidays

 

If your child is contracted to come to me on a day which falls on a Bank Holiday the hourly fee will be increased to £20 per hour per child. If, however, you decide to keep the child at home with you instead half-fee will be charged.

 

Occasional Days Off

 

If my service is available but you decide to keep your child/ren at home the normal contracted fee will apply. If, however, I am required to take an occasional day off and withdraw my services then no fee will be charged.

 

Parents Annual Holiday

 

Full fee will be due unless this coincides with the Childminder's holiday

 

Childminder’s Holiday (Usually up to 4 weeks)

 

No fee

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Settling In Period

 

I suggest a settling-in period of four weeks to allow the relationship between yourself, your child and me to settle down. During this time the usual fees will be payable. However, no notice period or notice payment will be required if either party wishes to end the agreement.

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Retainer fee

 

This  may be charged if you require me to reserve a space for you that you don’t need to use immediately i.e. because your job doesn’t begin straight away. I charge it as I am limited by my registration as to the number of children I can care for and when I reserve this space for you I am unable to offer it to another child, meaning I will lose potential income. By paying a retainer fee my childminding service will always be kept available to you for use during the contracted hours if you require it, in which case the usual fee will be charged instead. The retainer fee is usually half rate.

 

Deposit

 

A deposit of one month’s fees is a one-off charge that I ask you to make to show your intention to take up a space, and will need to be paid when the contract is signed, if not sooner. However, the amount paid will be returned to you when the Childminding Contract is terminated and the child leaves the setting, or can be used as the last months payment. If you decide not to take up the place it will be non-refundable, but if I cannot offer the place as agreed, then the deposit will be returned in full.

 

Notice Period

 

A written notice period of four weeks, or the equivalent monies in lieu, must be given for termination of the contract by either party.

 

Payment of Fees

 

Fees are to be paid weekly or monthly in advance, by cash or bank transfer. I will send out an invoice usually a week in advance via Baby’s Days. For those choosing to pay weekly payment will be due on the first day of the week the child attends, preferably before or at the time of arrival. For those paying monthly, payment will be due on the 1st day of the month for that month.

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All contracted hours must be paid for in full regardless of attendance unless the setting is closed.

 

If a child is collected early the full contracted fee still applies. 

 

Dropping off late does not mean you can collect late! You will be charged an additional £10.00 for every 15 minutes you go over your contracted collection time.

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Late payment fee

 

If payment is not made on the due date I will:

• allow 7 days grace period for payment to be made.

• From this point I will be entitled to make an additional ‘Late payment’ charge, as stated on my contract, to cover any bank charges I may have incurred etc. This fee will be charged at £10.00 per day.

• I will also suspend care of the child/ren with immediate effect until the full amount due has been paid (which will include late payment charges, plus any subsequent fees that become due) and seek legal advice from Childminding.co.uk, through which I am insured. This may result in a parent being summoned to attend a hearing at County Court and if the judge finds in my favour they will also be liable to the Court for costs.

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Illness

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PLEASE NOTE: It is very important that you understand that although I am happy to care for children with minor coughs and colds, I will not care for children who are very unwell, infectious (which includes stomach bugs!) or running a high temperature as I have to consider the welfare of all the children in my care. If your child required Calpol or similar FOR ANY REASON they should be at home.

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If your child has had sickness or diarrhea please keep them away from the setting for at least 48 hours from the last bout of illness.

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If I or a member of my family is unwell I will contact you as soon as possible.

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The following fees will apply during a period of illness:

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Sickness of Child/Parent: Normal hourly fee

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Sickness of Childminder: No fee