Late collection is more personal for childminders than for nurseries, because when a parent is late it's your own family's evening that waits. A clear clause sets expectations, so the rare late pickup is simple to deal with and nobody has an awkward conversation.
Charge for the time
The clearest approach is a set hourly price for extra time, starting after a short grace period and counted in blocks. For example, extra time is charged at £10.50 an hour, starting 15 minutes after the booked collection time, in 15-minute blocks. Families understand that straight away, which matters far more than how you came up with the number.
Many childminders set the extra time rate a little above their normal hourly rate, often time and a half, to encourage families to keep to their booked hours. Keep it in proportion. Under the Consumer Rights Act, a charge that looks like a penalty is harder to enforce than one that looks like payment for your time.
Collection after closing time
Some childminders add a flat fee for collection after closing time on top of the extra time charge, because it eats into their own family's time. If you do, state it separately so families can see both parts.
Extra time and funded hours
Extra time is private time, so you can charge for it even when a child gets funded hours. It should never be charged against the funded hours themselves.
When a child isn't collected at all
The EYFS requires you to have a procedure for children who aren't collected. Your contract should say what you'll do: contact the parents, then the emergency contacts, and if you can't reach anyone within a set time after closing, contact children's social care. Families should know this before it ever happens, and having it written down keeps the child safe.
Be consistent
The hardest part of a late fee is charging it to the family you get on with best. If you let one family off and charge another, you'll struggle to defend the fee later. Charge everyone the same way, and if you want to be generous, give everyone a longer grace period.
GoChildmind puts your extra time price in the fees section and your late collection procedure in the collection section, so families read them together.