Mumsnet Talk

Hello everybody, I need to pick your brains if possible. I've been working for a while but have a new job, for which I think I will need new childcare. Basically, both kids go to nursery now but DD will start school in September. Nursery is about 20/25 minutes walk away from the school. So if no change, basically the kid's will need to be dropped of in two places from September, one at school, one at nursery, 20ish minutes apart.

However, at least two days a week I will have a commute that will require leaving at about 7:30am to get to work in time, and possibly not getting back until just after 6pm. I will probably also work from home a bit (a lot outside of term-time, I'm an academic), and some days will have a slightly shorter commute as I will go to a different office. It's complicated - and also unpredictable.

So! What to do? Should I get a childminder who will do wraparound care and do a double drop off/pick up, one to school and one to nursery? I wonder if a childminder would be happy to do that, given the distance between the two? Also, I don't know why but it does worry me a bit, for DS who's at nursery to have two separate childcare solutions in the same day!

Or, should I bite the bullet and get a nanny? Not sure if I could afford a full-time nanny on my salary which is c.£40K (I live in London). Feels quite painful to contemplate, just when we thought our childcare costs were going to go down as a result of school. Another downside would be that I'd have to take DS out of nursery which he loves. Has anyone ever had somebody who is prepared to offer wraparound care from home? Might a nanny share be possible? If anyone's got any thoughts, I'd be really grateful!

Honestly I would probably consider a nanny - part-time or share as you suggest. Just for your peace of mind. It sounds as though you will need a level of flexibility both in terms of their care, your time and their location. Could your DS perhaps still do a half day session at nursery with your childcare vouchers - if you're still really keen for him to spend time there and in the event that you have a nanny who doesn't take them?

I know what you mean about the pain factor but I think you risk running yourself ragged and ramping up the 'guilt' factor to boot. Once DS is at school then it should get a bit simpler, no?

Thanks Latsia. I guess I should start investigating nanny options, I think I probably know that's the way to go, but have been trying to convince myself otherwise. Any thoughts on where to look? Gumtree? Agencies? Good idea re: childcare vouchers, hadn't thought of that. And yes, once both at school wraparound care may be better and I may also be earning more money (and have a better idea of my routine).

Plenty of CMs will offer wrap around care, it's just a question of if a CM near the school would want to / be able to get the little one to the Nursery. Often CMs have 'set' schools and Nurseries they can get to.
I don't know a lot about Au Pairs, but, as it's just getting them up and out in the morning and then home in the afternoon, and not an all day care situation, would an Au Pair be an option ?

Not wishing to add to your woes but have you considered what you will do during school holidays? My dcs are off school for about 12 weeks per year - probably more when you factor in in service days, bank holidays, illness, snow etc. It is worth considering what you do then too.

I'd at least try to look for a childminder first - one that does pick-ups from your DD's school as then you'll only pay for before and after school. Might be a bit of a challenge to find someone to start before 8 though. Could your DS move to a pre-school closer to your DD's school where the CM could more easily drop him off and pick up? Honestly, I would have thought that a nanny will eat up most of your salary, and as your DD is at school and you're not working massively long hours, you don't really need one.

Nannyshare.co.UK might help you find a solution. Especially in London.

Thanks all - yes, the hours are not the problem in themselves, I'm not a City lawyer or anything like that! It's just they are quite erratic, and the commute in rush hour adds an element of unpredictability that is not a good match with after-school club/nursery. Could change DS's nursery, that is a possibility but waiting lists round here are awful! Or find a childminder who would look after DS all day, and pick up DD from school, which might work if the childminder would also work slightly longer hours some days and take DS to playgroups etc. He would get very bored otherwise, I think. Thanks for nannyshare link, will have a look.

Could your son stay in nursery and you get an au pair to do the school pickups/drop offs? (I'm assuming your son is maybe too young to be looked after by an au pair, but i would have thought it was OK for them to do after school care for your daughter).

Is DS old enough for his 15 free hours? If so, any CM you find could probably drop him off and pick up from a local pre-school for those.

If you can afford it, I would get a nanny. We did various options over the years including nursery, cm, before/after schools club. We now are in a position that we can afford a Nanny and it is wonderful. The main pro's for me are that if I have to leave early, then I don't have to get DCs up, dressed and fed and then drop them off somewhere first. If they are still in their PJs when I leave then that's fine. I have two school age and one nursery age so another thing I like is that out of school hours and in school holiday, then DC3 gets to spend time with his brothers rather than being somewhere seperate. DC3 has a great time with the Nanny when the others are at school as they go to various toddler groups,she bakes, does craft activities,etc so he doesn't miss out on the socialising.
The major downside is the cost - not only her pay, but they'll be at your home using the elctricity, gas, food and then you need to pay milage for any car usage and and don't forget NI/PAYE!
Hope you find what is right for you.

I would also probably consider part time nanny for those complicated long days..

Is there a nursery at the school and is DC2 3 yo plus?

Because then you could drop both of them off there and get a nanny to do pick up and after school/nursery care. Big advantage is that the kids will be together when you are not there - I bet DC2 would prefer being with older sibling when you are not around to being at a good nursery. Plus holidays are covered and when DC2 starts school its an easy transition

I see token girl has said same as me re siblings being together. So important IMO. If DD2 is upset after school and I am not around she will often go to DD1 for comfort (she loves the nanny too but its lovely that she is like this with her sister).

Nanny shares with another family also good way to reduce cost.