Before and after school places look simple, but they raise questions a full-day contract doesn't: what happens on inset days, whether holidays are included, and who's responsible on the walk to school. Answer them in writing at the start.
What to cover
The pattern. Morning, afternoon or both, which days, and the times. Say whether the place is term time only or includes holidays, and if holidays are booked separately.
School runs. Which school, how you get there, and when the child is in your care. Your responsibility starts when you collect them and ends when you hand them to school, or to the parent.
Inset days, strikes and snow days. Whether you offer extra care when school is closed, and what you charge. This is the one families ask about most, usually the night before.
Ratios. School-age children up to 8 count in your ratios. The EYFS has an exception for four and five-year-olds at school before and after school and in the holidays, which my ratios guide explains.
Older children. If you care for children over 8, they don't count in ratios, but your contract and policies still apply to them.
Charging
Most childminders charge a session price for the morning and afternoon, because the time is short and the place is still held. Some charge a minimum per session. Say what happens when you're asked for a full day in a school holiday, and at what rate.
How it looks in your contract
From a GoChildmind contract
This is your child's usual week. A week that is only partly booked, for example when term starts or ends mid-week or I am closed for part of it, is charged for the days in it that your child is booked. Each invoice shows exactly what is funded and what is paid for that period.
Put your own details in, freeRead the full sample contract
GoChildmind lets you set term-time and school holiday weeks separately for each child, with session pricing if you use it.
Questions people ask
Does a school-age child need the same contract? Yes. Use the same contract, with the child's place set to the before and after school pattern.
Can I charge for inset days? If you offer care on inset days, say in the contract what you charge. If the place is term time only, extra days are usually booked and charged separately.