Teacher trying to work out childcare options

All settings are different. Only one of the nurseries I looked at offered term time only, and they charged an extra 10% on their day rate so it barely saved anything (and I hated the nursery). All the other nurseries didn’t offer term time only - they were full with year round kids so why would they want a child who will only pay 3/4 fees.

On the other hand every childminder I spoke to was happy to do term time only. I too work in a private school so get more holiday than the standard 13 weeks. My childminder will not charge me during state school holidays so I will end up paying for around 3-4 weeks of childcare I don’t need throughout the year, but this will allow me to go in to school at the start of the holidays and have some me time if I want it. You may find CM are happy to do this but not your full 18 weeks holiday. Also some may charge a retainer during holidays eg half fees, but mine doesn’t :)

I'm a childminder who has term time only & all year children. For term time only I often offer to spread the cost over the year e.g. 10 months over 12months so that you & I can budget expenses & income accordingly. I know that some minders don't like doing this because of the extra work involved if the child leaves part way through the year, in working out who owes what fees wise, but is actually quite simple to calculate. Also I generally suggest that, especially with a young child,that they attend once or twice a week during the holidays so as to not forget the setting & giving the parent a chance to have some 'me' time or prep time for the new term.

A nanny with a school aged kid might be interested in term time only especially if you were ok with them picking up their child after school, they are likely to charge a cheaper rate if you allow it. A childminder similarly

I know where I am lots of childminders do term time as it suits those with older DC. I know several parents at the school my DD attends childmind for teachers children.

I am a term time only childminder. I follow the Norfolk model calendar (as that is what my school where I do the majority of my school runs follows) and close 14 weeks a year. My dc go to a secondary school which is run by an academy they get different holidays although only by a couple of days. Sometimes if they are at school I will offer to open as extra dates but don't have to. As I chose to open term time only I don't charge anything during holidays.

Even if you go for term time it might be state school ‘terms’ you pay for I.e only non paying 12 weeks or so a year. I know it’s hard to believe when you are pregnant or have a newborn but actually the thought of having a few weeks a year where you have time off and paid childcare would actually be amazing! You can always drop kids in late/pick up early or do 3 days a week instead of 5 on the weeks you’re off but paying but having that balance especially for teachers who are usually exhausted by the end of the term I think it could work!

No state school where I live in UK has so many week's holiday. 12 plus 5 inset days a d most parents find that hard to cope with for childcare. 20 weeks seems excessive. Do understand private schools have more holiday allocation but have longer school days to compensate for the total hours teaching.

You can't leave a baby with an au pair full-time.

Nurseries around us don't do term time only, but some of the childminders do. Another alternative would be to have an nanny on a September - end of June contract (but obviously you would have to get a new nanny the following September).

@manicmij - one of my DCs has almost 20 weeks holiday this academic year ( in the UK).

I work in a nursery that offers term time only contracts and we don’t charge a higher rate than all year round
It is 38 weeks so any inset days have to be paid for extra
I would suggest looking as soon as you can and look at as many nurseries as you can

Sorry, didn't appreciate you don't have children never mind school children as yet. Nursery depending in whether or not one will accommodate where you are.

Either not the UK or private education system given 18 weeks holiday. Au pair would probably fit best covering from beginning to end of school year. Obviously holidays in the different terms but you would probably appreciate having au pair for some if the breaks given all the extra work teachers do in their holidays. Also no having to take and collect school routine as au pair would accommodate.

I'm a teacher too and wanted to put LO in nursery for term time only, however it worked out financially the same to put her in full time at a better nursery as the prices were higher term time only.

As it happens, I'm so pleased I did! She loves nursery and it means I get a bit of time to myself to clean the house, plus she doesn't have to be resettled after a long break. A teacher friend had a nightmare after the summer holidays because of this. Something to consider...

I think you'll find that if you do find a CMer or a Nursery offering 'term time only', then it will be for 38 weeks that are state school terms though, not the holidays you get.

CMers are self employed so can set their own terms. A few CMers do this as it means they are not working when their own dc are around in the holidays. A lot of Nurseries have either moved to term time only, or have lot of their staff employed on term time only contracts, as so many dc are funded now the numbers drop massively in the school holidays, so they are quite likely to - but again, it won't match your holidays.

I used a few different CMers over the years and all charged 1/2 price for the holidays.

Hi, as a childminder I offer term time only contracts but based upon my local school term times, I also charge 1 day a week in the holidays and recommend the child attends as this helps them adjust and remember me when they are very small.

As a nanny I have worked for several teachers and had Term Time contracts. There is holiday pay to include, that works out around 4 weeks... to calculate it, take the working hours per week during term time, multiply by number or weeks and then calculate 12.07% of the total. That gives total holiday pay in hours which are taken during school holidays.

With one child, a nanny is a costly option.

I was a term time only childminder. Not found a nursery who did that

I'm a childminder and I offer term time only contracts. I also offer monthly payments (39 weeks payments divided by 12 months).

Near me you would need to be booking in before baby arrives... Preferably before Christmas.

I think it's highly likely you will get a Childminder that does term only... Might not totally match your dates but sure could negotiate

I’m a teacher and I have children in nursery on a term time only contract.

Not all nurseries do them but where they do, they often allow you to book extra days up to a certain amount so if you need to go into the school at any point during the holidays, you have options.

I have always looked about 6-8 months before but I think it depends on where you are. Best to ask around locally if you can I think. IME nurseries are happy to discuss by phone or email before you visit.

My nursery does teacher term time contracts.

I have a term time only contract with a childminder.

I've had 2 childminders who were happy to do term time only. Current one charges half rates to hold the place as she could easily fill it otherwise.