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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Does this childcare exist?!

38 replies

Wigeon · 13/01/2016 19:07

DH and I currently share a lot of the childcare of our DDs (Reception and Y3 aged). We've been thinking about future options as they grow up, and we potentially increase our working hours, and wondering if this ideal form of childcare even exists:

Someone who picks up your DC from school, but only 3 days a week, walks to your home, looks after them and sometimes cooks them dinner, but is also flexible enough to take them to, or collect them from, after school activities (eg singing club), play dates at other children's houses and birthday parties in the local area (sometimes walking distance, sometimes driving). Parent returns home between 5pm and 6pm and person can leave.

I guess this is a nanny, because it's in your home, but presumably most nannies want whole days? And au pairs live in your house, right? We don't have any room for an au pair (and would only need a bit of after school help).

The main issue, which means a childminder or after school club isn't ideal, is that I'd be sad if the DDs missed out on after school activities, which they can currently do because DH or I always collect them from school. I know that this is the reality for many DC, and the world doesn't fall in and they have perfectly fine lives, but I've been mulling over the options.

Any thoughts?

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Original poster
Wigeon · 13/01/2016 19:45

From what I can tell, the CMs round here often have multiple charges, so I guess I assumed they couldn't provide a wholly individual service to each child (child A to a birthday party in location 1, collect child b from a club in location 2, all the while dragging children c and d to those other locations). But I may be wrong! We do use a CM for one morning a week, so of course I could talk to her.

I do quite like the idea of the children just coming back home and being by themselves so they can zone out and just be in their own surroundings (as currently happens).

OP posts:
twirlypoo · 13/01/2016 19:42

I own an agency that provides this sort of care.... I post all jobs on indeed and gumteee, you would def get someone. I have several 'retired' ladies who are in similar positions at the moment :)

Changedtoday · 13/01/2016 19:39

I was also going to say that CMs around here pick up from school and take kids to a multitude of after school activities, so I'd ask around.

Original poster
Wigeon · 13/01/2016 19:38

Ah, thanks very much. It'd be prob minimum 6 hours a week, probably more (2-3 hours after school) - would a student be up for that much? How do you ensure safety with someone who isn't DBS checked / Ofsted registered? Just references?

And any idea what rough hourly costs are? Am in Hertfordshire, so probably at the upper end of whatever the range is.

OP posts:
Piratespoo · 13/01/2016 19:35

If you are in London, look at My Big Buddy. It's exactly what they do.
Www.mybigbuddy.com

DelphiniumBlue · 13/01/2016 19:31

There may be a TA at the school who might be able to do it? Or possibly a student.

BackforGood · 13/01/2016 19:30

Agree - there's many student or a retired person who would like that kind of work.
Also, some CMs will take to / fetch from out of school activities - it depends what other dc they have.

When my ds wanted to join something after school and our CM couldn't go and pick him up because she looked after another child who was delivered to her house on special school transport, so she couldn't 'not be there' when ds's club finished, then I asked another parent who's dc was doing the activity, if they would be so kind as to see that ds walked out of school with her and crossed at the crossing. she was more than happy to do this - after all, she was walking that way anyhow. So there are often ways round it. Smile

RudeElf · 13/01/2016 19:29

This is the kind of childcare i am thinking of moving to. DC currently go to CMer 3 days a week. I was thinking about a gumtree ad.

99percentchocolate · 13/01/2016 19:25

I used to do exactly this as a teenager. One of my teachers at secondary school recommended me and a couple of other students to the families, we met with them and discussed the requirements and my availability.
May be worth asking around to see if anyone knows a teacher at the local sixth form or college? We just thought of it as regular babysitting.

PennyHasNoSurname · 13/01/2016 19:22

A "mother's help"? Though technically they should be called a "parent's help".

glenthebattleostrich · 13/01/2016 19:21

I'm a childminder who takes children to extra curricular activities so it may be worth asking

SummerMonths · 13/01/2016 19:12

We placed an add in Guntree and got loads of responses from students, retired ladies all sorts. Lots had great references and experience. I was amazed how many good people applied.

munchkinmaster · 13/01/2016 19:10

This is what I'd want going forwards. I wonder if a student or older person may do it for me.