A term-time only place is booked for the weeks the local schools are open, usually 38 a year, and not the school holidays. It suits parents who work in schools, and it can suit you if your holidays are quieter. The contract needs to be clear about which weeks count.
Which weeks
Say which school's term dates you follow, usually the local authority's published dates or the child's own school. Say whether inset days count as term time, because schools close for them but parents usually still work.
Charging
You can charge for the term-time weeks booked, or spread the year's fees evenly over 12 months. Spreading is easier for most families to budget, and the total is the same. If you spread fees, say clearly that the monthly payment is the year's term-time fees divided by 12, so nobody thinks they're paying for holiday weeks.
If a term-time family wants care in a holiday, say whether you offer it and at what rate.
Funded hours
Funded hours are funded for 38 weeks a year, which matches a term-time place. Show the weekly split of funded and private hours in the contract, and make sure your local authority's agreement allows the pattern you're offering.
How it looks in your contract
From a GoChildmind contract
Billing. Fees are worked out for the year and divided into 12 equal monthly payments, so you pay the same amount each month. The total takes account of my closures and the weeks your child is booked.
Put your own details in, freeRead the full sample contract
Questions people ask
How many weeks is term time? Usually 38 weeks a year in England, but check your local authority's or the child's school's term dates.
Can I charge a retainer over the holidays? You can, if the contract says so and the family agrees, but not against funded hours. My deposits and retainers guide covers the rules.
GoChildmind lets you mark each place as all year or term time only, and works out the monthly fee either way.