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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

OMG I have had 80 replies in 48hrs to a nanny ad, how do I begin to sift through them?

60 replies

PPH · 19/06/2006 19:10

This is completely mad. It is for a temp nanny job to cover my nanny's honeymoon. I have emails from over 80 people. I'd say on a first read through probably 60 of them would be absolutely fine, probably 10 would be great, probably 1 or 2 are super fantastic lovely perfect Mary Poppins types.
But I don't need superfantastic, I just need someone nice to have around and competant and fun and trustworthy for a couple of weeks. She won't even be in sole charge. How do I START to sift through them?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Issymum · 20/06/2006 08:22

Wotcha PPH.

We are onto our third Antipodean nanny, all wonderful. Our current nanny is an ex-NZ primary school teacher. I think an Aussie school teacher will be fabulous for the three older peaheads, but may find caring for a baby more tricky unless she happens to have some experience with babies. Another consideration is whether an Aussie teacher may fit more easily into your party as there will be fewer cultural or linguistic barriers.

Completely off topic, but there is something a little strange about sitting in a hotel room in central Tokyo worrying about PPH's holiday nanny for Greece.

TheMammy · 19/06/2006 22:26

I didn't call you a racist but gracefully accept the title of numbskull for my sad lack of knowledge of differing local economies

Original poster

PPH · 19/06/2006 22:14

swimmer is good. all the aussies seem to have lifesaving certs. one is a tennis coach! but sadly no tennis court there so not much use

still slightly hanker after the slovenian gardening secret agent though

OP posts:

Original poster

PPH · 19/06/2006 22:12

Because a Slovakian living in Slovakia has a SLIGHTLY different cost of living to an Australian renting a flat in London, and accordingly would consider a lower amount of money a fair wage.

I don't mind you calling me a skinflint but assuming that I'm a racist is a LITTLE out of line... I know, I'll call you a numbskull for your sad lack of knowledge of differing local economies and we can call it quits.

The hours would actually be sort of long, because we keep med. hours (so dinner at midnight sort of thing) - which I why I need a nanny, because the baby won't be up that late. and also because she also won't be sunning hersefl much on the beach at 5 months.

others are 8 5 and almost3

OP posts:

TheMammy · 19/06/2006 21:57

Jeez..keep your hair on.. I was only asking!! Will slink away now... after you spit my head out of your mouth!

Uwila · 19/06/2006 21:55

Oh, good idea Bink. A swimmer with life saving skills would be a good idea.

MrsSchadenfreude · 19/06/2006 21:54

GBP 300 is what a primary school teacher earns in a month in Slovakia, PPH!

Uwila · 19/06/2006 21:53

Oh mammy, you have picked out one comment and totally misjudged PPH. I am the slave driver on this boad. So deffinately NOT PPH. So, on her bahalf, I'm going to have to say back off.

Bink · 19/06/2006 21:53

If you cost-cut you'll still get the clueless ones who thought WOW when they looked at your ad, but you might lose the sensible ones who've got an idea of what they're getting into. £300 sounds reasonable - if you pay that then you can rely on her being ready to help out generally without watching the clock.

Can you send a standard-form email to the 20 best, saying you've got masses of responses and what can they specially offer? In your place (wish I were) I'd be trawling for special talents - swimming-teaching qualifications, let's say.

Uwila · 19/06/2006 21:52

But then again if you can easily afford to pay more (and I think you can) than no harm in paying more. But I definately don't think you NEED to pay more to attract a qualified person to go with you.

TheMammy · 19/06/2006 21:50

I'm not usually one to pick things out from others comments, but this seems a bit odd

"I guess around £300pw but I suppose a Slovakian doesn't need that much for 2 weeks of sitting on a terrace of a beautiful house overlooking the sea listening to a baby nap."

A Slovakian wouldn't? :( ...but who would then? What makes a race/nationality of a person worth £300 pw?

Uwila · 19/06/2006 21:50

To go to sit on the beach in Greece whilst there are still parents and grandparents around to do much of the entertaining? And a cleaner/cook. I'm sort of assuming her her hours of work will amount to about 5 a day. And otherwise it will be a join effort of all the adults chipping in. This job is a paid holiday, not real work.

How old are the 3 eldest? I now the little one is a few months.

Tommy · 19/06/2006 21:48

a friend of mine, when this happened, ditched all the ones that had spelling or grammatical errors in them - she didn't want people who couldn't spell looking after her baby!

jura · 19/06/2006 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cod · 19/06/2006 21:42

on HILDAY>
fgs
do you need one?

arf and runs

Earlybird · 19/06/2006 21:41

Uwila - really? For four children??? Sounds low to me....

Uwila · 19/06/2006 21:39

Hmmm... not sure. I think £200 per week net plus expenses/food/transportation (which I assume you are already planning to provide).

ScummyMummy · 19/06/2006 21:26

Why don't you nterview the kind looking ones who sent a photo first?

arfy · 19/06/2006 21:19

oh sorry I have no advice!
Except I would ditch the absolutely fines and concentrate on the other 12. You may not need super fantastic, but they did apply for the job. I've had to whittle down CVs/apps like this (not for childcare though) and you have to find your own criteria and stick to it and then be quite ruthless....

arfy · 19/06/2006 21:17

hmm - did you mention the extremely glamourous sounding set up in the ad? Because I think that could explain the 80 replies!

Original poster

PPH · 19/06/2006 21:13

its funny isn't it earlybird... I'm bird happy to have people from school at home babysitting or helping out etc but I think it is the fact that this would be living with us on holiday 24/7 for over two weeks etc - it just makes it a different thing. also the set up could be perceived as pretty glamorous in greece and I just don't like the idea of our holiday being discussed in the staff room... maybe that is unfair.
we seem to break up earlier than most other schools around here so I need someone about 3 days before most other teachers are free. the ones I'm talking to are all supply teachers at the moment, so can manage the dates.
Similarly the few friends I have with nannies (most don't) don't break up until the following week so it is the same problem.... hmmmmm. good suggestions though

OP posts:

Original poster

PPH · 19/06/2006 21:09

ha ha ladymuck!

greece for a couple of weeks uwila. own room in a private house, meals either in or out depending on what we are all up to, childcare only as there is also a housekeeper/cook. really not a difficult job - ok, 4 children, but us and lots of family around (including my mum) so lots of sitting around on beaches and terraces and eating nice food.

how much do you think I should pay then uwila? eg for an aussie teacher who was going to be in greece for august anyway so is basically getting her flights free and an extra 2 weeks there albeit working? I'm so out of it as I've had the same nanny for ages.

OP posts:

Earlybird · 19/06/2006 21:08

"are" entirely different.

Earlybird · 19/06/2006 21:07

Hmm - interesting PPH about not wanting to mix school life and personal life too much. DD's old nursery teacher babysits for us (and did when dd attended the nursery), and I think it went a ways toward making dd a secret "favourite" student...though I take your point that babysitting on random evenings and spending several weeks together or entirely different.

What about asking some of your friends (with children at different schools), if there are any teachers who might be available for summer work? Most teachers I know want to line up additional work at any opportunity because they sadly aren't paid so well.

Or, I seem to remember that you have used nanny agencies in the past. Why not see if an agency could supply you with someone who is in between full time jobs? They would have interviewed, vetted, checked refs, police check, etc and I'm sure the charge would be nowhere near a regular fee.

Final suggestion - presume not all your friends are able/want to take their own nannies on holiday. Why not see if one of their nannies is available to travel with your family - they'd be in the fantastic position of being double paid for a few weeks.

I know it doesn't help you with the 80 responses, but each of my solutions gets you someone who is potentially more of a "known quantity".

ladymuck · 19/06/2006 21:01

Judging from the reaction to your shoes I'm sure that you'll find an MN'er who will follow you to your holiday destination and listen out for your baby for you, at their own expense.

But you might find that a bit spooky....

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