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"Afternoon nanny" search: where to look?

11 replies

binkie · 20/01/2004 09:48

I am hoping the pooled wisdom of MN can help me.

From the end of this summer we will need someone (living out) to look after ds and dd after school, hours probably 2 - 7 pm every weekday. Also will need the school holidays covered, but I realise that's yet another can of worms - have some other possibilities for that. I've done some research and think when I start seriously looking (in the spring) I might use:

websites:

thegumtree.com
nannyjob.co.uk
greataupair.com, plus

agencies:
After School Nannies
Tinies Childcare.

Has anyone any other recommendations, or warnings? We're in London (Bayswater) (so I've tried using Simply Childcare (aka The Register) before, and realised it really only gives you choice if you're SW London).

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JJ · 20/01/2004 10:08

Binkie, I found a part time (2 days a week) mother's help with Top Notch Nannies. They were really good in that I had very specific requirements and the woman they found was brilliant.

Good luck!

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SofiaAmes · 20/01/2004 22:25

We've used the gumtree for builders very successfully. My friend got her au pair from the gumtree. Her suggestion was not to advertise, but just to answer people advertising looking for work. You can tell a lot about them from how articulate their ad is and you don't get a lot of time wasters answering your ad. Make sure you check references, even if they are in another country.

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binkie · 21/01/2004 09:38

Thank you! We've just lost our cleaner too - she's started at college and can't now make the days we need - so with SofiaAmes' endorsement of thegumtree I've started looking there too.

Don't suppose anyone has any further how-to-find-a-cleaner suggestions? Perhaps needs a new thread ...

And for the benefit of anyone else in the afternoon nanny situation, please note Tinies don't do "part day" positions as an agency, though parents can use their website free to post a personal ad. Particular recommendation from Tinies: don't take mobile numbers for references, always insist on a landline. I wouldn't have thought of that one.

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vivat · 21/01/2004 15:22

Hi binkie - we should have chatted about this at lunchtime !

I'm surprised at what you said about Simply Childcare - i've got an ad for a nannyshare in that this week and there is loads of stuff for our area (I think they call it North of the Thames). I got my current nanny through there too.

ON the cleaner front, I have a friend who lives in Paddington who has just got a new cleaner - i'll ask her

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vivat · 21/01/2004 15:26

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kaz33 · 21/01/2004 15:35

Got our fab australian nanny through upthegumtree - look out for the people who can't start straight away, likely to be serving out notice on previous jobs as opposed to wannabe nannies etc...

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binkie · 21/01/2004 15:45

Vivat, yes please on the cleaner - thank you.

I guess my last use of Simply Childcare was 3+ years ago so I am really out of date - not fair on them. Will give them another go.

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binkie · 29/01/2004 21:56

Just to say - for Vivat re your Paddington friend - that thegumtree has lived up to its recommendations & we've found a new cleaner who seems ideal. So it's just back to worrying about September now.

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smokey · 29/01/2004 22:20

I found a wonderful temporary nanny on Nannyjob.co.uk and I found my my current nanny (who is also excellent)through putting an ad in the local paper. I only need someone after school 2 days a week, but had plenty of responses. If you are prepared to take someone with their own child, you should be able to find someone with lots of experience and qualifications.