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Need to leave at 7, childcare not open until 7:30...

99 replies

ElphabaTheGreen · 25/10/2016 09:38

Hi all.

DH will be working away three days a week, every week from next year. My working hours are 8-4, and I have to leave home at 7am to get to work on time, so DH drops our DCs off at nursery and breakfast club, both of which open at 7:30.

The only way I can change my working hours to accommodate this is to use annual leave, which doesn't really appeal. I can't work later to make up for lost hours in the morning.

We don't have family, friends or neighbours who can take over the drop off to enable me to still leave at 7am.

WIBU to ask the girls in DS2's nursery to see if we could pay one/some of them to cover the 7am-7:30 gap and take them in for me, or is this cheeky? The nursery is close to our home and most of the nursery girls live very locally. Or are there alternative childcare services available that would cover this (pitifully short and awkward but crucial) period of time? We're in the Greater Manchester area if this helps you point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance!

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ElphabaTheGreen · 25/10/2016 09:40

Sorry - to add a bit more clarity, nursery and school are two separate locations, so it's two drop offs, about 10-15mins car drive apart.. Total PITA. No, the school has no onsite nursery I could use to make things slightly easier.

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littlemissM92 · 25/10/2016 09:44

It won't be allowed due to insurance and safe guarding etc x

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littlemissM92 · 25/10/2016 09:44

Your best bet will be a childminder?

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Afreshstartplease · 25/10/2016 09:47

I didn't think an employer could simply refuse a request in circumstances like this?

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VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 25/10/2016 09:47

Can you change your core hours at work by 30mins and start work a little later?

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DoofusMcXmas1 · 25/10/2016 09:48

Are you serious? You are seriously thinking of asking the nursery to open 1/2 an hour early, just for you, because taking annual leave to cover your childcare issue 'doesn't appeal' to you? Sometimes, as a parent, you do things that 'don't appeal' because you have no choice.

jeez, some people.

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Coconutty · 25/10/2016 09:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Coconutty · 25/10/2016 09:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElphabaTheGreen · 25/10/2016 09:51

No, I am not suggesting I ask nursery to open at 7am, FFS. I'm not a complete idiot.

I'm asking if I could ask one of the girls to come to ours at 7am as a private job, then take the boys in to school or nursery, or find out if they know anyone who might do this.

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2014newme · 25/10/2016 09:52

Can you reduce your hours by 0.5 per day?
Otherwise a nanny or childminder may be better option than the nursery. Ours didn't open till 8. 7.30 is already earlier than most.

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FurryGiraffe · 25/10/2016 09:52

Absolutely ask one of the nursery nurses if they can do a bit of wrap around care for you. I know loads of people who do this either regularly or occasionally. It's no different from asking them to babysit on a Saturday night.

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Zebrasinpyjamas · 25/10/2016 09:53

Our nursery does allow us to make private arrangements with the staff to bring the children home. It is made clear it's a private arrangements and nothing to do with them. I'd start there. The staff like it as it's relatively good money for helping with children they know.
One complication might be the fact the journey involves a car journey. Are you comfortable with them going in someone else's car. What would you do about car seats etc.

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MaryField · 25/10/2016 09:54

Lol at the op having to do something that's not 'appealing' to her. At the moment Dp sorts the DC out in the mornings, why wouldn't it be his responsibility to find a solution as it is he who is upsetting the routine? I'm sure if it was the other way round he wouldn't be posting on here looking for ways to sort it out and people suggesting he talks annual leave to cover it.

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ElphabaTheGreen · 25/10/2016 09:55

It would mean changing my working hours to 9am to 5pm. I would be pushing it to get to both nursery and after school club in time for closing at 6pm - I probably wouldn't make it for one of them and get fined. As it stands, finishing work at 4pm means I don't get to one of them until close to 5:30 because of traffic at that time. I also don't want to spend even less time in the evening than I already do Sad

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SpaceUnicorn · 25/10/2016 09:55

Sometimes, as a parent, you do things that 'don't appeal' because you have no choice.

Exactly this. Isn't the vast majority of parenting doing things that don't necessarily accord with your personal preferences?

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Mrscog · 25/10/2016 09:55

I have a friend who has an arrangement like you propose so that might work. How late for work would you be? I think I'd be tempted to ask for a reduction in hours 3 days a week.

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ImAMoving · 25/10/2016 09:56

Doofus I don't think her boss will be happy with her taking 1hrs annual leave at the start of every day, 3 days a week for a year! Prob enough annual leave for that anyway. Doofus.

Some jobs you just can't change the start time and work later like an office job, some things are time dependent.

OP go ahead and ask, or see if a mum friend using the same nursery wants to take them (paid) for half an hour

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EenyMeenyMo · 25/10/2016 09:56

we had one of DS's nursery girls as a private babysitter at the end of the day - but just for one day a week.
I think it would be a long day for them for 3 days a week. I'd go for the childminder option or try and see if you can change your hours- if its going to be a long term thing

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2014newme · 25/10/2016 09:59

I don't mean start later and finish later, I mean reduce your contracted working hours by 0.5 per day. So start later but finish same time as now

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Muddlingalongalone · 25/10/2016 09:59

My friends nursery did this. Came to her flat & walked her daughter round at opening time & closing time. Charged her quite a lot though from memory.
Don't know how it would work with a school drop off too & car journey though???
Also at my dd's nursery they do a week of early shifts & then a week of late shifts so that might cause a problem too??

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SpaceUnicorn · 25/10/2016 09:59

I know loads of people who do this either regularly or occasionally. It's no different from asking them to babysit on a Saturday night.

Our nursery got wind of the fact that some staff were babysitting for nursery children on evenings/weekends, and forbade it (disciplinary matter for the staff member involved due to conflict of interests, breach of contract for the patent(s) concerned) . So check with your childcare provider before going down this route.

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ElphabaTheGreen · 25/10/2016 10:00

I can't really afford to drop three hours a week, but I haven't completely ruled that out. No, taking annual leave or dropping my working hours doesn't appeal - why would it? Am I not allowed to seek alternatives first? Confused Trust me, I'm up to my eyeballs in doing things that don't appeal to accommodate my job and being a parent. I don't think it's selfish or unreasonable of me to find ways around adding to that unpleasant pile.

Thanks to those confirming that asking the nursery nurses for private wrap-around is a reasonable approach. I'll look into it.

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Queazy · 25/10/2016 10:00

I think asking one of the nursery girls sounds a great idea, and otherwise a childminder might be a good option. I understand you not wanting to use holiday to cover this, as I'm imagining you keep that so you can spend whole days off with the children. I honestly don't know why some people even respond just to judge and get all high and mighty about what OP finds 'appealing' or not. Don't judge her parenting, that's not what this site is here for. Just read and move on if you have nothing constructive to add. [rolls her eyes and sighs, jeez some people]

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Queazy · 25/10/2016 10:01

Sorry crossed posts. Don't give those comments a second though OP. Good luck speaking to the nursery - I'm sure one of the people there will be more than happy to help xx

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Diddlydokey · 25/10/2016 10:02

Move to a nursery near work?

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