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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Both parents commute - childcare for before and after school?

44 replies

testbunny · 01/05/2012 17:31

Hi there

We are considering a move from London to Surrey. Both of us will commute into London (me 4 days a week). We would have to leave quite early in the morning, so what do other commuters to in terms of childcare? Is it possible to find a nanny, or will we have to find two seperate nannies? Or is a childminder, where we have to do drop-off and pick-up, the only option?

Thanks very much!

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Original poster
testbunny · 01/05/2012 19:47

I know what you mean yousankmyship, but I love my job (it's important to me) and work in media so am tied to Lodnon. It is also important for me to maintain my salary (albeit not huge!) level so we can start paying off the mortgage and save for tuition fee's etc when the kids are at school, although that is looking unlikely with the potential before and after school childcare costs!

i will definitely be trying to go for working 1 of the 4 days working from home, but this may not be possible and I can't count on it

It is not ideal (at the moment i leave the house at 8.30am and get back by 6pm) but we don't have an option for secondary schools where we are.

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yousankmybattleship · 01/05/2012 19:46

It is my opinion. This is a public forum so I have every right to express how I feel. It makes me very sad that people have children and then don't give their time to them. Parenting is about more than eanring money and finding the right wraparound care. It is about being there for your children, talking to them and showing them they are important. I will hide this thread now though as it is just depressing.

Pipsqueak99 · 01/05/2012 19:43

Uncalled for yousankmybattleship.
The OP is thinking ahead and trying to do what is best for her DC.
Lots of us work similar hours and our kids do just fine. It's just very hard work. And traumatic and stressful to find the right wraparound care.

Original poster
testbunny · 01/05/2012 19:40

Hi nannynick.

No, we are looking at state education, and yes will be school holiday care too to throw in. looking at having only (!) 2 years of different school pick-ups as would like to get them into a primary that goes to 11.

Great. thanks. How much do you think a before (from 7am) and afterschool (to 7pm) nanny, plus holidays, will cost?

I know hampshire is cheaper. just it's further out (hence why probably!). Haven't thought of fleet. will have a look at the traintimes. thanks!

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yousankmybattleship · 01/05/2012 19:34

So you are seeking childcare for children age 4 and 6 for 12 hours four days a week? Shock. Makes sure you leave some photos about so they have at least some inkling who you are.

nannynick · 01/05/2012 19:30

How about Fleet, Hampshire. Another expensive place but state secondary schools are ok (or were when I was there). Maybe find the right secondary school, then find the right house in catchment.

I can do you a nanny cost example if you like though there may well be one already on here that I have done for similar hours. A great nanny in this area will expect a gross salary of around £10-11 per hour in my view. Before/after school nannies may be higher.

nannynick · 01/05/2012 19:21

School holiday care as well?

Housework, laundry, food shopping, tradepeople visiting, all that sort of thing - if you and DH both have demanding jobs which mean you are out of the home say 12 hours a day is it worth having 4-day of full day help at home? Cost of that may well be around 30k so not cheap but may give you more family time.

In this area, there are infant and junior schools - so as children get older it can mean collecting from two different schools - or are you looking at private school education?

nannynick · 01/05/2012 19:14

School holiday care as well?

Housework, laundry, food shopping, tradepeople visiting, all that sort of thing - if you and DH both have demanding jobs which mean you are out of the home say 12 hours a day Mon-Fri, is it worth having full-time help at home? Cost of that may well be around 30k so not cheap but may give you more family time.

Original poster
testbunny · 01/05/2012 19:12

Hi stillquiffy. We are looking at that area as my mum is in farnham (another expensive place!), but also to keep the commute as short as possible. Have been looking at nanny salaries, and they are the same as London (but with the c£6k extra we will have to pay to commute!). We are moving because of secondary schools (and family). Either that or potentially pay £30k+ a year for private schools down the line (which we havent got!)

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Original poster
testbunny · 01/05/2012 19:03

Thanks everyone!

Tbh i think it will more likely be woking as a faster commute.

I would need to leave the house by 7.30am latest (husband earlier), and probably, thinking about it, i would be home by 7pm (latest)

DC's would be 4 and 6, or 5 and 7

Thanks!

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StillSquiffy · 01/05/2012 18:58

Why Guildford/Woking?

Unless you have relatives there or some other non-negotiable, I'd recommend anywhere except this area. House prices are hideous, and there is high demand for the best nannies, so I expect costs will be higher in this area too. We had a place in Eton and moved away once kids came into the equation because the costs compared to other commuter belts were so high.

That aside, it's perfectly possible to hire nannies to do wrap around care. Childminders can be difficult if your commute is very early (ie if you want a drop-off before, say, 7.30), and also if you are both doing full-on 'careers' you may find that childminders might not have flexibility for late pick-ups.

Where I live (90 minute commute to London) almost everyone uses au pairs.

SarkyWench · 01/05/2012 18:12

What age dc?

nannynick · 01/05/2012 17:54

I'm near Woking... there are certainly some before/after school nannies in this area. So that may well be an option, especially if you would consider a nanny with their own child.

House prices are horrible... though cheaper than London I would have thought, though suppose it depends on area you currently live.

Train travel time from Woking itself can be quite fast... though SWT does have issues from time to time, so it can be unpredictable.

Keep your options open at the moment... you haven't even decided where to live yet, or brought a home.

When you say Early... what time would you anticipate that to be? Say allowing for 15-20 mins to get to train station, an hour on the train (to Waterloo) then whatever time the journey from there to your work.

Original poster
testbunny · 01/05/2012 17:48

p.s. hours are not flexible - we would need to leave early, I would be back by 6.30 (earliest)

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Original poster
testbunny · 01/05/2012 17:47

thanks nannynick. will check it out.

yes, au pair is a good thought, though not sure we can afford a big enough house!

it would be guildford or woking

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nannynick · 01/05/2012 17:41

Depends where you are moving to in Surrey... some parts of Surrey I consider to be London!

Consider if you would need childcare during school holidays - I expect you might.

A childminder is certainly a possibility, though it will depend on the school attended and where you live. Some childminders can start quite early... 6.30am/7am and finish 7pm sometimes latter. It really depends on each individual childminder.

Try using SurreyCC ChildcareFinder to get an idea of what childcare is in the area of Surrey to which you may be moving. You will need to know the postcode... you can use StreetMap to convert a place on a map to a postcode. It will produce you a list of childcare providers and many will have e-mail addresses, so you can contact them and ask about what hours they care for children, schools they collect from.

maples · 01/05/2012 17:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SandStorm · 01/05/2012 17:37

I've just been incredibly lucky and have found a lovely after school nanny so they do exist out there. They're just hard to find!

SarkyWench · 01/05/2012 17:35

Are hours flexible at all?

We make this work by having Dh start/finish relatively early and me start/finish slightly later. Dc are at the cms from 8-5.30