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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

how much?

56 replies

Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 11:39

hi guys

well as you all seem to be a fountain of knowledge,please help!!

I am giving up looking for a nanny job that I can take my own child to, after 15 yrs in the business, I am no longer employable...forget the great references etc..... grrr dont get me started!

So, How much would it cost in woking/surrey to put my little one into a CM for say 3 days 9-5 or 10-4?

thanks

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Original poster
Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 22:40

cheryl you have hit the nail on the head..i cant drop my daily rate, I just couldnt survive on £65 per day, it doesnt pay my bills. I am not being greedy,just need to earn £70/day.I am looking at mothers help/nanny/housekeeper, in fact any role that would accept nanny with own child.
Nick in answer to your question - There are plenty of jobs I would travel too in my area with the hrs and not too many kids, the agencies say they have sent my CV but they fail to come back to me.Most are offering upwards of £350 for full time but I am not asking for the top wage and always say rate is negotiable.

Pink chick - i havent scored an interview in a couple of months and havent even spoken to any of the families concerned, its all through agencies. Those that I have sent privately have said they no longer want nanny with own child after giving it some thought. So cant see how I come across as agressive when I have even spoken to the families..just the agencies!!

Nick - the one piece of feedback I have had is that I havent had longevity in a position for the last yr, well as it says on my cv, I have temped whilst looking for a permanent role.Prior to this I was made redundant after 3.5 yrs with the same family after returning from mat leave. The other family I nannied for at the same time, couldnt take me back after mat leave as she had a baby 4 wks before me! This is all explained in 1 sentence after my job description/duties, for every position. I have been unlucky that all my jobs have ended through no fault of my own, just family circumstance.

Anyway, guess I shall just keep plodding on, look for the lower end of the salary scale and the right job will be out there, hopefully one that will pay me on time, have food in the house and be able to afford me!!
thanks!!

OP posts:
nannynick · 09/03/2010 21:46

Are you finding jobs in our area that are paying the amount you need... so jobs paying £350-400 net per week? (Please do try to use Gross figures if possible. £454 to £526 Gross per week I think is equivalent. Net to Gross calculator)
If so, are you getting interviews for those jobs? If not, are you getting any feedback with regard to why you are not getting an interview?

If you want me to take a look at your CV, send it via e-mail - I suspect you know my e-mail address (or could find it out easy enough )

PinkChick · 09/03/2010 20:53

i tried to help too but agree with Navy...you seem more content with blaming the family you're presently with and other families for not wanting your services rather than trying to be positive and looking at yourself..see other peoples opinions..im guessing this agressive side of your personality may have come across in interveiws as it came out in your second post despite everyone being nice and trying to offer help!

PinkChick · 09/03/2010 20:51

i tried to help but agree with Navy...you seem more content with blaming the family you're presently with and other families for not wanting your services rather than trying to be positive and looking at yourself..see other peoples opinions..im guessing this agressive side of your personality may have come across in interveiws as it came out in your second post despite everyone being nice and trying to offer help!

navyeyelasH · 09/03/2010 20:43

I agree with blondes, lowering your own rate would leave you with more money than sending your child to a CM.

Plus I wonder how much of this has to do with having your own child v your attitude. I don't mean to be rude but you sound very entitled and I'm wondering if this is coming across to parents as you being not very easy to work with?

How long have you been in your current role? Do you say with job for a long time? Could it be your CV not your child that's causing the problem, after all you said lots of the people you applied to were happy for nannies to bring their own children.

xoxcherylxox · 09/03/2010 20:42

i agree with blondes you will still walk away with more if you reduce your rate than you would if you pay a childminder out of your wage but then maybe neither of these are actually finacially affordable for you to do

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/03/2010 20:11

remind me not to try and offer help

the point nick and i are making is that if you work even at your daily rate before your had your child £80, and paid a cm so losing maybe £32 of your daily rate, leaving £48

you would still earn more/take home more if you reduced your rate and got a job for £65

Original poster
Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 20:05

sorry but i have already outlined my bottom line and reasons in an earlier post, so was a little surprised by what blondes said taking this into consideration..
dont mean to snap..but this whole situation is very frustrating

cheers!

OP posts:
Laquitar · 09/03/2010 19:42

Erm..why are you getting worked up?
People are trying to help you and i think blonde's comment was reasonable.

Original poster
Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 19:36

in a word blondes - i cant pay my bills, mortgage,feed my family, run my car,pay petrol, buy clothes/shoes...have a life!! Not that I should have to spell it out for you..its my private affair!

so even if you think it makes more sense..it doesnt, i get no tax relief or help with anything from the government...i stand on my own two feet...maybe i would be better off being a dole scrounger/handout seeker..go on jsa and get some benefits...would you prefer that or I do a honest days work and get fair pay...

OP posts:
navyeyelasH · 09/03/2010 18:19

OP how long have you been in your current role could that be the problem? Do you stay in jobs a long time?

I agree with Laquitar it's not a nannyshare, in a nannyshre you have to compromise with the other parent on lots of different things, food, outings, routines etc. When you employ a nanny you don't have to compromise you set out the terms and the nanny agrees or doesn't.

Whenever I have seen anyone in childcare with their own children with them while they work, the minded children always come first. It's almost like a paranoia on behalf of the practitioner!

Laquitar · 09/03/2010 17:49

I don't understand why people call it 'nannyshare'. It is not a nannyshare.

In nannyshare there are 3 parts to negotiate. In OP's situation there are are two parts and the employer is the only employer and can make the decisions. I agree that a small ammount could be deducted but i think it is unfair to call it 'nannyshare'.

PinkChick · 09/03/2010 17:46

Funky2Sarah..advertise your self on www.childcare.co.uk i had an enquiry the very first day i put my ad on, nothing come of them yet but have received lots of veiws!.good luck

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/03/2010 17:43

i was wondering that nick, if say a cm charges £4ph and did 9-5, then that would be £32 of your nett salary you lose, so £70-32=£ 38 is what you would earn a day - can you pay your mortgage on that?

so would make more sense to reduce £15 from your orginal rate £80 and go to £65

Nicadooby · 09/03/2010 17:34

Hi Sarah, it may just be the area you are living in as i take my son to work with me and when i was looking (last summer)i was offered 4 jobs all of which i could take him with me.

And also i get £75 nett per day (only work 2/3 days on alternate weeks) in hertfordshire, i did have to reduce my hourly rate but only by 50p.

My friend also with her own child has also just got i new job with out having to take a cut in wages.

I hope this gives you some hope

nannynick · 09/03/2010 17:03

£70 net (about £91 gross per day, £23661 gross per year) seems rather high to me given you have your own child, given you are outside of London. Jobs outside of the M25 won't be paying that much in my view... inside the M25, then perhaps you may get closer to it but you will need to factor in your cost of transport.

Without revealing what I earn, I will tell you that I earn LESS than your annual gross figure, working 4 days a week. If I worked 5 days a week, then I'd only be on a couple of thousand a year gross above your figure. I don't have a child and I feel what I earn is fairly typical for an experienced nanny in Surrey outside of London.

If your little one went to a childminders, then you would be paying the childminder out of your net pay. I'd say that probably 1/2 if not more than 1/2 of your salary would be going on childcare. Would that be workable given that you say you can't take a pay cut?

Original poster
Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 15:58

Hi Everyone

yeah I have looked on netmums in all the surrey sites and nothing springs up.
I am all registered to be a child minder but the market is saturated in my area at the moment, I have placed an ad saying I will be starting up but no enquiries yet.
yeah, I agree what they thought and the reality is they cant...but obviously I cant leave without a job to go to, unless they make me redundant/end my contract.

I am charging £70 nett for 5 days, I cant pay my mortgage on less so cant keep a roof over my head!!(or feed us or buy nappies, pay the bills etc) I used to earn in excess of £400 nett without my baby so thats the lowest I can go.

I am registered with about 10 agencies, always on nannyjob,nannyselect,find a babysitter etc

blondes = no way can i drop that amount as i said, i cant pay bills etc let alone petrol,tax my car etc
cheers everyone

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 09/03/2010 15:40

agree look and advertise on netmums

£50 a week is £10 a day, and maybe you need to think more of £15/20 a day less if you cant find a job/family to employ you

have you had a look on nannyjob and try other agencies

good luck

StarExpat · 09/03/2010 14:42

go onto netmums and make sure you're in the west surrey site ("change sites" if necessary) and they will list local parents seeking childcare. Sometimes you have to sift through a few pages. When I was looking for a cm, I got lots of replies from nannies, which I would have considered if I could have afforded it.
It sounds like your family thought they could afford a nanny, but actually can't. Childcare vouchers - they should have saved up a month's worth in advance, really to be on time and don't have enough leftover for extra money for you to do stuff or buy their little one shoes...
It can be so hard. For both parties.
Also childcare.co.uk you can postcode search. How much are you charging, with bringing your own little one along, if I can ask, without overstepping boundaries .

gingernutlover · 09/03/2010 14:34

would you consider registering as a childminder instead? Or is the pay not comparable?

sounds like you are being treated like crap and you shouldnt have to keep putting up with it.

I would consider a nanny with her own child but I would expect a discount yes as it would effectively be a nanny share.

Original poster
Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 13:58

thanks nannynick!!

OP posts:
nannynick · 09/03/2010 13:56

Sunningdale area is around £5 per hour. So expect £4-£5 per hour would be typical.

Original poster
Funky2sarah · 09/03/2010 13:18

yeah i know - they claim they struggle to pay their rent let alone me if the vouchers dont come through in time, i insist they pay me in full if the money doesnt credit my account on pay day from the vouchers and transfer it straight back when it does hit my account.They basically dont leave enough days to send it to me..their fault!

yep they are struggling but again they agreed the kitty,wages, petrol etc in advance of my me starting so its not like they didnt have the choice!!

i will have a look but all seem to be london jobs, unless im in the worng place!

cheers and thanks!

always late by 10-15 mins.

OP posts:
StarExpat · 09/03/2010 13:13

did you look on netmums local childcare board?

StarExpat · 09/03/2010 13:12

payed you late 3 months in a row?? That is appalling. How late are they in getting home?
as for kitty money maybe they are struggling to afford it?