The Curse of Boff strikes again - this nanny has decided after a fortnight in post that petrol is too expensive

I'm not sure what else you can do tbh. 47.5hrs a week are nice hours for a nanny and it sounds like the pay and conditions are good. Unfortunately some nannies, whilst having great references and being good with children, just aren't that proffessional. Of course, as a nanny you have to do what's right for you but that shouldn't be at the expense of the families you work for. I've met plenty of nannies who, whilst good, move on at the drop of a hat if anything goes against them rather than communicating any issues and trying to resolve them.

Your nanny should never have taken the job and I'd be seriously pissed off in your position. I'm vaguely job hunting ( DC1 starts school in Sept and I want to be around for the first term to do school pick ups and would need to put DC2 into a nursery or find someone happy to have her ) but I always google the distance from home to the job and work out rough petrol costs/ travelling times before even applying. If it's not cost effective then there's no point!

Your Au Pair bloke sounds like a good option especially if DC4 starts nursery in Sept.

Nannying isn't like any other line of work though is it? You can hardly demand to continue working for a family if their children have gone to school/a parent has been made redundant/they're moving/they're switching to a childminder because it's cheaper etc.

Based on the nannies I know (a lot) I would say in 98% of cases jobs come to an end as a result of a change in the families' circumstances.

That's me screwed then...

Some nannies do stay for ages though, presumably because the family spaced their children!

We used to do this with nannies and tube journeys.

I would hire the AP.

I think it sounds like you were the 'holding job' whilst the nanny circled the runway looking for somewhere to land closer to home. Such a shame for you and you really have my sympathy. We always set a max distance and ask the agencies not to send us anyone who lives outside that range. Our jobs always have long hours and it definitely makes the job less appealing if they have a commute on top. Our max range is currently 10 miles, although we might be being a bit conservative with that!
Agree that there don't seem to be that many good candidates looking at the moment. If the place that you don't name begins with 'N', then we advertised through them and no-one - repeat no-one has even applied through them.
We've done AP and housekeep combo - works really well as long as you get a good AP. Don't know how old yours are, but it's definitely only an option where you have older kids.
We currently have a Spanish AP (I am at home at the moment). There are LOADS of them out there ATM. Also, the Spanish government apparently pays some people to spend time overseas learning English, so don't feel too guilty about the low pay.

Easy jet/Ryanair/flybe probably do cheap flights - definitely worth it if you think he has potential. Is he through the agency though?

Hmmmmm

Tbh no 3 def shows potential - good legs refs and likeable chatty covering letter

Be good to meet him first or can't you do that as abroad

I feel there must be more to it than not wanting to do the commute. It is a long journey but if she knew that before she took the job, there is no excuse for her behaviour!

I always look into every aspect of travel and viability before I even apply for a job.

I would like to work nearer home but took the job I am in now as it was what came up when I was looking but having taken it I will stay until it reaches a natural conclusion when my charge goes intio school full time, later this year

Blimey! I remember your other thread, cant believe it happened again!.

What surprises me in these cases is how they get the other job.
Ok, the nanny took your job until she finds something in her area. Who found her the other job? The Agency? hmmm. Its a bit ironic imo giving you apologies etc when they had probably help her to get the other job.

With 17K extra you can take few out of that for a local mum or student to do a bit of housekeeping. The homework could be an issue.

I would go for the Spanish AP for the benefit of having free spanish tutoring.

would LOVE to see his legs

bung him the cv over

does it come with pic??

BOF. Your sporty chappy sounds just the ticket. I've done three sporty chaps now (Spain, Sweden and Greece) and all have been great with the kids. Housekeeping side is hit and miss although current one is brilliant on this side.

Differences I've personally found between APs and nannies (having had, and continuing to have, both):-

1. Nanny much better at supervising homework. She's instinctive at guiding/encouraging.
2. Nanny more 'professional' - if for example she finishes jobs and there's still an hour before school pick-up, the nanny will find something else to do without being asked, whereas the Aps would just leap onto facebook/skype to pass the time.
3. APs have all had vast amounts of energy. Trampolining for 3 hours non-stop? Tick. Pushing too children up a zipwire every 2 minutes for an hour? Tick.
4. APs generally take more liberties - eg asking for Friday-Monday off then booking a flight that necessitates them leavign at 3 on the Thursday, that kind of thing.
5. APs need lots of training on what constitutes a balanced meal.

Overall, I think I have best of both words - part time nanny 15 hours, and AP for the rest. Gives me loads of flexibility, especially around holiday times.

If I were in your shoes it would be a no-brainer to hire the chap, see how it goes and then fill in the gaps.

Honestly, a childcare job isn't worth a huge commute, BoffinMum, so please don't take it personally

I expect she got a better offer (and that an easier commute is a large part of the better).

TBH, I think that 50 miles is massive for a nanny commute.