Fixed, alternating, term-time, wrap-around and ad-hoc schedules, and how to set up a Week A and Week B rota.
Childminders creating a contract for a child whose days aren't the same every week, or who only comes in term time. Needs the Standard plan or a free trial. It takes about five minutes to learn.
Every contract has a schedule: the days the child comes. It decides who's on your register and how many hours are invoiced.
| Type | The child comes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | The same days every week | Most families |
| Alternating | Different days on alternate weeks | Shared care and shift rotas |
| Term-time | School term weeks only | Term-time care, with an optional holiday schedule |
| Wrap-around | Before and after school | School-age children |
| Ad-hoc | No regular days | Occasional care, booked session by session |
Open the child's profile, go to Contracts and tap +. Choose the parent who signs, then tap Continue through Government Funding.
Tap one of the five types. The screen changes to ask for what that type needs.
Tick the days the child comes. For Alternating, pick the Week A days, then tap Week B and pick those.
KinderStart works out which week is which from the contract's start date.
Enter your hourly rate and any consumables charge, then tap Continue.
Check the consents, then the review. It shows a Live Estimate of the invoice and, for Alternating, the number of patterns. Tap Generate Contract. The contract is ready to send to the parent.
Getting the schedule right at the start means your register, invoices and funding all follow the family's real pattern, with nothing to adjust by hand.
Next guide
Creating a childcare contract
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KinderStart strives for accuracy. Competitor features and pricing comparisons are based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details are subject to change by respective providers.