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Original poster

Would this work?

40 replies

lougle · 12/09/2014 07:36

I'm thinking of retraining but would need childcare. I'd get childcare support but only up to £300 per week. I have three girls (8, 7, 5). The eldest has SN.

Ideally what I'd need is a nanny who could arrive at 6.30 am, get the children dressed/breakfast. Then get DD1 onto her SN bus (it comes to our door), take DD3 to school 1.5 miles away (in car due to timings) and bring DD2 back to the house, looking after her until 9.45-10.00 when DH gets home.

Then, I'd need him/her to arrive at 2.30 PM, take DD2 to collect DD3 from school, come back home and take DD1 off her SN bus. Then look after all 3 girls until 6.15-6.30.

I make that 7.5 hours per day, 5 days per week. So 37.5 hours per week. It would only work out at £8 per hour gross. Is that far too low?

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Original poster
lougle · 12/09/2014 09:05

I could quite happily have two nannies. I just assumed that no-one would want to work for just 3 or 4 hours per day.

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slithytove · 12/09/2014 08:25

Could you consider 2 nannies? One for morning one for evenings? Might be more likely that they could get other work around the shifts you want and removes the 12 hours a day issue.

Annietheacrobat · 12/09/2014 08:23

That's the problem - not many nannies will be up for this. Better to do a full day than have an annoying unpaid gap in the middle (partly taken up by the commute)

Original poster
lougle · 12/09/2014 08:20

"DCs were sick, or what happens in school hols?"

My DH would look after them because he's home during the day. I'm not looking for a full-day nanny. I'm looking for a nanny who is willing to do mornings and evenings only.

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NickNacks · 12/09/2014 08:16

Yes 45p per mile for the 'working' miles but you won't be liable to cover her twice each way a day commutes.

Tbh it's not overly relevant what you DH does for the wage he earns. You've come to the childcare section to ask 'Would this work?' and I'm giving you my opinion based on experience. Sorry you don't like it.

Pastperfect · 12/09/2014 08:14

Agree with others it's a 12 hour day. It's fairly standard practice for nannies to have "down time" while kids are at school but you still need to pay: what if DCs were sick, or what happens in school hols?

Original poster
lougle · 12/09/2014 08:07

Perhaps slightly irrelevant but a nanny would be getting £100 more per week then my DH earns for the same hours. I honestly don't buy the idea that you can call it £300 for a 12 hour day.

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Original poster
lougle · 12/09/2014 08:06

I'd cover the fuel, I think most people pay 45p per mile?

Perhaps I should tell my DH to tell his work that £200 per week for the same hours is tight considering it's a 12 hour day? I'm sure that would go down well. Hmm

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NickNacks · 12/09/2014 08:03

Well because you need that person to be up and out for 6am ish and bit back home until 7pm. Fine for a decent monetary reward and though there's a 4 hour window in the day, it's not enough to combine another job. Plus it seems a lot of toing and froing which will cost the nanny either on public transport or fuel in her car.

Original poster
lougle · 12/09/2014 07:55

Why is it a 12 hour day? It's a split shift. My DH does a split shift working pattern for a lot less and wouldn't regard it as a 12 hour day.

My 7 year old is HE but DH would be home in the day it's just the morning and early evening that we need cover for.

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nannynoss · 12/09/2014 07:54

Was just about to say the same as NickNacks. Is DD2 home-schooled? I have taken a job at this pay rate before, but when I was young/inexperienced and only for 1 day a week as a 'something to do' on my day off from other part time job. Also, there are a lot of hidden charges with a nanny, eg extra heating bills, extra food bills feeding nanny, petty cash for outings, that kind of thing. If you are paying the number right up to your absolute limit without the hidden extras taken into account, you might find yourself short by the end of the month.
However, you may find someone who wants SN experience and is willing to work at a lower rate, but it will take a bit more searching to find, and you may not find a long term nanny as they may want to move on after a year or so once they have a bit of experience under their belt.

NickNacks · 12/09/2014 07:51

That's really a 12 hr day for £60 gross. You might struggle sorry.

NickNacks · 12/09/2014 07:48

Does your 7 yr old not go to school?

wingcommandergallic · 12/09/2014 07:45

No experience but I suspect the issue might be the split shift as the nanny might struggle to find other work to fit in between if required.
Having said that, there are LOADS of nannies in my area advertising on childcare.co.uk so you might get lucky.

Original poster
lougle · 12/09/2014 07:39

I just used the nanny tax calculator and it works out at £6.96 per hour net.

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