I have been considering...

[irishlass1234]

So I am a primary teacher, and am hoping to go on maternity within the next year or thereabouts (TTC...!)

I have been wondering about doing childcare for other children, whilst on maternity, and perhaps continuing it for a few years until our child would be at school. If it seemed to be going well, I may continue to do childcare instead of going back to teaching.

What do you think, would this be a good idea, or would I be best not giving up teaching?

My thoughts are:

1. I get to look after our own child, as my wages from teaching would just go straight on our own childcare.
   
   
2. I really love working with children but the paperwork/unnecessary rubbish we have to put up with at school is putting me off.
   
   
3. school is a stable income, whereas home childcare might not be as stable.
   
   Also, is there any way of asking whether there are childcare needs in my area, without being too outing?
   
   
   (I have also posted this in childcare, as wasn't sure where it would be read most!)
   Any advice would be appreciated!
   
   Thank you.

[noblegiraffe]

You can't take on a job while you are on maternity leave. You're either on maternity leave or you're working, that's why you're only allowed to work a limited number of KIT days. You'd forfeit your maternity pay and have to quit teaching before knowing that childcare was actually a goer.

Also, maternity leave is given for a reason - looking after a baby is really hard work. I spent the first year in a sleep deprived haze barely able to look after 1 baby.

In addition, childminders also have to complete Ofsted paperwork.

[irishlass1234]

Even though I would only be getting paid for about 9 months of maternity pay? I was thinking of starting childminding when my pay stopped. I didn't realise it would still be classed as maternity leave even when I wasn't receiving pay. This is good to know, thank you for your advice.

Is Ofsted paper work a lot?

[Meloncoley2]

Isn't it just a case of not being able to work at another teaching job? I would have thought that doing some self employed work would be OK, although I am no expert.
On the other hand, totally agree with the practicalities of actual childminding being a problem, sleep deprived haze being one of them.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Our nanny did exactly what you're suggesting. After maternity leave, instead of going back to work, she started working as our nanny, bringing her own child with her. It has worked brilliantly for us - our children basically think they're siblings and we rely on each other a lot. It came about very infomally, just from chatting at baby groups, but became a formal agreement with contracts, tax etc.

As a nanny you need no paperwork at all (though some parents may prefer it if you become ofsted registered as then they can pay you with childcare vouchers). Parents will probably find it easier to use a site like nannytax.com to manage payroll etc.

To become a childminder, you need to be registered with OFSTED and the local council and take certain courses, but you might be able to do some of those during mat leave (there are online versions for some)

I hope that helps.

[irishlass1234]

That is very helpful thank you. So your nanny comes to your house each day with her own child, and then leaves in the evening?

And she doesn't look after any other children?

[noblegiraffe]

I've just checked and it seems you can be self-employed while on SMP. However if you don't return to teaching you'll have to pay back the 50% bit of your maternity pay (if you take it).

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Yes. She comes to us in the morning with her daughter, gets my boys ready for school etc, takes my eldest to school then looks after my youngest (alongside her daughter) for the day.

I believe the main difference between nannies and Childminders is that nannies work in the clients home and cms from theirs.

[irishlass1234]

Hmmmm, so now I have two ideas to think in rather then one, so thank you for all your advice!

What is the 50% you are meaning? I have not heard of that?

[noblegiraffe]

Maternity pay for teachers (assuming you qualify and are not at an academy with own policy):

4 weeks: full pay (including SMP)

2 weeks: 90% pay (including SMP)

12 weeks: 50% pay plus flat rate SMP

21 weeks: Flat rate SMP

13 weeks: unpaid

If you don't go back to work, you have to pay back the 12 weeks at 50%.

[irishlass1234]

Is this in Scotland? That looks quite different to what I thought I had seen before? Has maternity pay changed recently?

[noblegiraffe]

Oh this is England, don't know what the deal is in Scotland, sorry!

[irishlass1234]

I was wondering! Thanks, I'll have a look and see what it's like here.