We have 2 DC aged 7 and 4. The 4yr old will start school this year. At the moment we have a nanny 50 hours a week, which we've done since DC2 was 6months old. It means DH and I can both get to work and DC get picked up from school/nursery and taken to various clubs during the week. We need home-based childcare which is really reliable as DH and I both have pretty full on work schedules and I also have my parents that are both unwell who I visit every few days and take to weekly hospital appointments as they can't get there alone. I'm usually out of the house from 7.45 and DH from 8.15 (he does handover with nanny most days).
Once both DC are at school I'm not sure what the nanny will do during the day. We also have a cleaner who is taking maternity leave soon and so I am trying to plan ahead and offer a combined nanny and housekeeping job which works for her but is also more affordable for us in the long term. Does such a thing exist? I see it advertised but don't know anyone that does it. Would a nanny actually be willing to do housekeeping during school hours? Would a nanny be willing to reduce their hours during term time (I thought probably not)? Would I be better looking for afterschool and holiday clubs only and getting a cleaner separately?
Its such a minefield and I don't want to cause worry for our nanny but I do think we need to plan ahead for when school starts after the summer.
Do most people keep their nannies on the same contracts once DC are school age or is it common to change at this time?