Nursery staff won't provide out of hours care?

Lawyer here. Our nursery contract includes a clause prohibiting parents from soliciting nursery staff to come and work for them. I see that as being aimed at trying to prevent parents from poaching a nursery worker to come and work as their full time nanny, for example. Legally I think the nursery would be on very shaky ground if they tried to prevent staff from babysitting for nursery parents in their own time.

In terms of how to approach it with the key worker- I would ask them, out of earshot of other parents, if they know anyone who does babysitting. That gives them the in to say that they do, but puts no pressure on them if they don’t want to know.

This is unnecessarily unkind. And a very strange take

I don't think it is. It's someone in a much more casual and personal setting earning extra money- probably not declared.

It can only work if it is absolutely nothing to do with them being one of the workers at the nursery. If they do something she doesn't like or something goes wrong- it can not influence anything at nursery or it has crossed that boundary.

So let's imagine there is a child hurt because of carelessness - nothing to do with nursery, you can't go and complain - and shouldn't- the worker probably is not insured personally, you still have to face them every day with whatever feelings you might have, they may work with your child at nursery-how would that feel?

I would never mix the two up.

I doubt OP will be back. Bizarrely I think she’s expecting to pay £5 an hour for babysitting because that’s what she pays the nursery. Even more bizarrely she is too scared to ask the staff whether they will babysit so that she can see a friend who is scared to use a taxi. She sounds about 12 years old.

I don’t understand this point of view. It’s still a professional relationship

This Is not correct. It’s very normal in my area (south east) and 80% of the nursery’s round here do it. The children already know the staff so it’s a great way for them to make extra money. Endorsed by their jobs.

I’d check the info for parents, which is likely to say it is not allowed, if it says that I’d not ask and get alternative childcare or not go out.

This.

This is like asking the John Lewis carpet fitters whether you can hire them privately to refit another carpet after decorating. They are not allowed to pick up work like this - but many do, and it’s very helpful to the customer!

Our nursery set recommended pay rates for babysitting - there was no problem at all - but that was 10-20 years ago. Having your child’s key worker babysit is ideal. They could easily settle him if he woke up - unlike his grandparents…

It's about professional boundaries surely- maintaining appropriate relationships at work which do not turn into anything other than that. I would never have asked a nursery worker. It is like asking the classroom support in DS1's Reception class. It is inappropriate.

This is very odd indeed. Surely you’d simply say hey does anyone do baby sitting, I’m out to dinner next week? Yes. Great thanks. No, ok no worries, do you know anyone who does?

Just ask and get a babysitter if they say no. This isn't an AIBU.....

She means the nursery can't say no to her asking, not the individual member of staff!

I think lots of mumsnetters think they’re being really cool and clever with their unpleasant replies, when actually they just look like nasty wee children trying to bring op down a peg for no reason. See the absolute embarrassments who are proud to be called ‘vipers’. Really strange behaviour from grown women!

Invite them round to yours it will be way more relaxed

My nursery has a policy all parents and staff sign saying any out of hours babysitting is private arrangement between the 2 parties and nothing to do with the nursery so if something happened you can’t come blame the nursery

the policy in our nursery is no out of ours babysitting, apparently the owner thinks it’s unprofessional and shows favouritism. However the staff do it discreetly. I’ve never had occasion to ask them but I know other mums have and it has got a few staff members in trouble but they still do it. I think if you ask quietly and discreetly you’ll probably find a lot of them will do it.

Our nursery forbid this in the contract. I'd read through your t&c again and if there's nothing in there then ask. Don't expect them to want to though. They'll be working with kids all day so might already have a second job if they wanted one somewhere like a pub to get away from kids for a bit. Also make sure you don't imply their nursery job is simply babysitting.

That's life with kids. You want to go out 2 nights on the trot. You don't have childcare, so you cannot go out. Your friend can come to you, though.
Life with kids means few opportunities to live your own 'best life
Having kids does not mean giving up any life for yourself!
Very odd comment.
Also, OP how does your friend manage contravening she's scared of being in a taxi ?

I thought it was perfect. That commenter isn’t being helpful with her pursed-lips ‘that’s immoral!!!’ Replies. Doesn’t deserve politeness imo

Our nursery allowed this but we had to sign a waiver that this was not linked to the nursery just a private arrangement between us and the staff.

You are making a mountain out of this op. Just ask the manager "Do any of your staff do baby sitting out of hours?". They will either say yes or no, if no you can say do they know of any reputable baby sitting services. Then if not your friend will have to suck it up and get a taxi to yours.

I would ask when you drop your child off , it will be a yes or no . But be prepared to be charged @ £15 per hour or more after midnight.

Surely a clause is for poaching someone and using them as a nanny / babysitter and poaching from their role, not sure why it’s being made so complex with morals etc. This is outside of nursery hours, and extra work. I would just ask office or send an email. Ours and many I know even keep a list of staff who babysit. We use it often.

This makes absolutely no sense.

Babysitting rates are £15 an hour, nannying more. You can’t see that one of the childcare workers could make considerably more from becoming a nanny than working in the nursery.

Ours do it. They just explain it’s entirely separate and nothing to do with nursery so their insurance doesn’t cover it

you won’t get them for £5 an hour though. You’ll need to pay them at least min wage.

Just ask. 2 members of staff offered to look after my children.