OK, all you people who work, how the ** do i work out childcare, ill have no-one to help me

[nailpolish]

HELP

what do you do in the school holidays?

[FatFikAndFugly]

how old np?

[nailpolish]

DD1 be starting school in august, shes 5 in oct and dd2 will be 3 in oct

[nailpolish]

ndp, you cant just use a nursery or a cm for school holidays only

relatives - theres isnt anyone who can help

nanny - er, im not loaded

[FatFikAndFugly]

is dd2 in nursery? if so that's her sorted, if not and you don't mind the idea of nursery I would seriously consider it or a childminder. I found nursery suited dd as I didn't have to worry about CM getting sick taking holiday or anything

CM for dd1's after school and holiday care? is there a holiday scheme run witht eh school?

[FatFikAndFugly]

You can just use CM for school holidays but they would probably expect a retainer fee..

[puddle]

Holiday club
Swop with friends
Grandparents down to look after them/ send them to grandparents
Take holiday

[Ladymuck]

What form of usual childcare do you have for dd2? If it is a cm she may be able to do a holiday space (esp if you are also doing after school.

Perhaps you could tell us what you need all year round and we might be able to suggest something more helpful?

[cardy]

All mine and DH holidays are planned ahead to be taken during schools holidays - sometimes together sometimes each of us taking a couple of days to cover the week. However this is still no enough therefore for remaining days we ask relatives or do swaps with DC friends (i.e I;ll have yours for a day if you'll have mine).

I haven't used them but what about holiday clubs - step DCs go to a tennis club for a week each summer.

[nailpolish]

well, its for when i move house, dd1 is at preschool just now, and i thougt when i move i would either put both into a nursery for the 2/3 dasy a week i will work, or dd1 can go to preschool and a cm would take her and collect her, and she would have dd2 too

but in august - dd1 will be at school full time, and dd2 will be at preschool half days, what do i do

[nailpolish]

and when i move house i wont have any friends or relatives

[nailpolish]

how does this sound

when i move house i arrange a cm to look after dd2 2/3 full days and dd1 full days, but she will have to take her to preschool and collect her

from august when dd1 is in full time school and dd2 is at pre school, the cm would have to take dd1 to school and dd2 to pre school

do they do this even if the preschool isnt at the same site as the primary school?

during the school holidays the cm would have both dd's 2/3 full days

[nailpolish]

do cm's do this?

[madmarchhare]

Your mum could come and stay for some of it. You should suggest it when you tell her you are moving. Have you told her yet?

I worry about the same thing actually. Its not for ages but I have no idea how we are going to deal with it.

[FatFikAndFugly]

I think you'll find a CM that would do that. My CM does school run and used to do preschool and school run before dd started in September

[FatFikAndFugly]

started school in september.

[nailpolish]

no, i couldnt ask mum to do that, she would have to take time off her work

[ItsMeMellowma]

Its hard I agree.

I would love to work but its too much stress finding child-care and I don't like any of the CM who stay locally...

I was thinking of starting up my own childminding NP but it would prob be bit too far for you to travel.

[nailpolish]

i think that sounds reasonable, the cm arrangements?!?!?!

do you have to pay a cm for the time your child is at school?

[PandaG]

Most CM's Iknow would do nursery and school runs, and have a school child for full days in the holidays if tghey did before and after care during term time. You need to be aware that a CM will probably charge you fo rthe time a child was at preschool, as the child would be blocking one of her places. I am a reg CM, so if you have any more q's ask away

[nailpolish]

mellowma can you tell me where you stay? maybe thats where im looking for a house!

how old are your children mellowma?

tbh i dont want a cm, i had one before and she kind of did a Fatal Attraction but with children....

id rather have a nursery but heyho

[ItsMeMellowma]

Midlothian. DS are 6 and 3, almost 7 and 3!!

[nailpolish]

if you pay a cm for the time your children are at school, does that mean if your child needs to come home early from school the cm would collect them? (assuming its nothing serious, like snow day or sommat)

[ItsMeMellowma]

No thats wrong. 2 and 6 almost 3 and 7... sure you get it..

[PandaG]

Cm would not charge you for the time a child in full time education.