childcare arrangements - mixture of nanny and cm - would it work?

I don't think an au pair is going to sort you out unless you go for CM and need the wraparound care? You'll hit the same language barrier, doesn't drive, not able to cook and look after DC at the same time (often).....

Bilingualism isn't the be all and end all - language should be a secondary consideration to a childcarer actually being able to care for and develop your children.

I think now is the time to look for a CM who can do pick up/drop off and have your 19mo too.

Ah i see it, yesterday they said the nanny was not English, though didn't say specifically that they could not speak some, understand some of the language.

These days many languages get spoken at toddler groups, especially if in an area with lots of nationalities living in the area.

£80 seems a bit steep. A weekly pass probably is not needed, don't have to do something every day. Pay per trip.

How much would nursery be and how would they get there, there will be costs for everything.

I don't see anywhere Goodwebsite mentioned a lack of English, did I miss that or is that perhaps not an issue here. Indeed do we even know if Goodwebsite is in the UK? Guess someone may have looked up their other posts to determine location.

Does sound like this nanny is no longer ideal for the job, as children get older their needs change, so a change of nanny may be the thing to consider.

Even in London a weekly bus pass is about £20.

True geek :) tho still seems far for little legs

Other option rather then pay a cm 3hrs a day for 3 days so possibly £45/55 9hrs at £5/6ph put that money towards a bus pass though never heard of £80 a week for a 2mile bus ride - if I get a return to town (about 3miles) costs me about £2.30

Well children over 5 are supposed to do min of 1 hour, ideally 3 hours of walking/ excercise a day.
A half hour walk to and from school is only 1 hour.

Tho walking 4miles a day may be a bit too much for a 4/5/6yr and would be 8 miles for the nanny - though tbh calling her a nanny when she can't do the role and duties of a basic nanny ...........

Is she qualified? Is she paid well? I honestly can't work out why you have employed her when she can't fulfil the basic duties you need

What bus pass costs £80 a week?

You know 2 miles is a less than 30 min walk? Youngest in pram, eldest on scooter maybe

I agree with above tbh. If they can't speak English, can't socialise, can't cook and supervise, can't take a child to and from school, then you are probably better getting rid and using childminder full time

Why did you employ someone who can't speak basic English or drive to look after your two small children?

How on earth does she communicate with them or you? Or do you speak another language?

A nanny who doesn't speak English well enough to go to toddler groups, doesn't drive and yet you live a bus or car journey from school... Are you sure this is good for your DC?

I'd either do a nursery a couple of days a week so that your LO would have children all their age to play with - and all the activities will be geared towards them.

Alternatively, you could just book your nanny in for classes - if you're in London there are lots of non-English as a first language nannies. Gymboree, monkey music, tumbletots, messy play arts classes are all really good for 19 month old girls.

As an after thought are you worried about your daughter having a lack of exposure to English? If so an English CM may be better for a couple of mornings.

Your nanny should also be doing cooking and school run as part of her duties.

If your nanny can't do those things, which are well within the range of nanny duties (depending on what bits in the house means), then you need to look at changing your nanny rather than bringing extra people in.

Does your nanny speak her own language to your DC then? Do you communicate with her in her language? Has she lived in the country long? I wouldn't have thought shed he completely helpless so toddler groups shouldn't be a problem. She only needs quite basic English to get by - ice done foreign language toddler groups in a couple of languages, 1 I didn't speak at all, and it's never really been an issue. You don't get the gossip time with other mums that many mums seem to go to the groups for bit that's not why nannies are going IYSWIM.

I think you may be over-complicating things a wee bit
How far is too far?

does your nanny speak any english? and if you want her to take to groups and socialise then tell her

also as others have said, why wont the nanny take dc1 to school? is it walkable? if not does she drive/have use of a car

Yeah I don't understand either. It's a nannies job to take children to and from school. They just take youngest in pram with them

Can't your nanny take DD1 to school, surely this is part of the reason you employ a nanny?

I am a CM and would be surprised if a parent asked me to share care in this way. Most nannies are more than capable of providing enough social interaction for a child.

Combine with pre-school/nursery seems better to me, many morning/afternoon groups will take from age 2.

Now is time to get on waiting list. Meanwhile nanny can go to toddler groups.

We have a mixture of nanny care and nursery care and for us it works brilliantly, but on different days. Certainly would not want to pay double childcare for the same time here!
If you want your nanny to cook without taking her time away from the kids I'd ask her to do it while you lo naps (rather than walking in buggy for example) and batch cook so she doesn't have to do it every day - also then there's stuff n the freeze for you on non nanny days.
If you want your child to socialise etc then structured playgroups/music sessions/toddler gym classes etc are all great. And / or ask your nanny if she has friends with charges of similar ages.
I don't think sending your child to a cm while your nanny does chores is on tbh.

A nanny shouldn't have that many chores though, that's the point. Nursery duties yes, cleaning house no.

So I would hire a cleaner instead and leave nanny to do nanny jobs.

A nanny will be perfectly fine to make a risotto/ roast some chicken whilst caring for a child. Most will do either when they nap or include child ie let them mix, use a child's knife to play with a mushroom etc etc