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Original poster

2 working parents, school aged children, no childcare. Possible?

71 replies

BlueAbacus · 28/01/2023 17:48

DC2 starts full time preschool attached to the primary school which DC1 attends in September. Feels like a whole new phase and still thrilled to be out of nappies tbh.

I appreciate millions of people must do this, but I can’t get my head round it, so any advice very welcome.

DH and I both work full time. Both can be flexible in terms of home working c.2 days a week, but neither can do compressed hours. Neither of us can (or want to) go part time, mainly for financial reasons.

Up until September, we have had a nanny/childminder to do pick ups, and look after our younger child during the day. She had both in school holidays. Appreciate we have been fortunate with this.

From September, we can’t justify a nanny for after school hours (nor do I think there are a lot of people looking for those hours, from what I can see) and there are no childminders who will just do pick ups in our area. So DH and I will have to fudge termtime with after school clubs and each working from home a few days a week, making up time in the evenings.

But what about school holidays?! We have no grandparents or other family help. Is it just lots of summer camps and me and DH taking annual leave at separate times? Any advice from those who have done/are doing it very welcome.

OP posts:
Stayingstrongish · 28/01/2023 17:51

I pay for holiday club and use annual leave

MrsBunnyEars · 28/01/2023 17:53

That’s probably your only option, but I don’t think there are many holiday clubs for preschoolers - you might need a childminder then.

underneaththeash · 28/01/2023 17:54

Summer holidays can be easier to get a nanny as there are lots of trainee teachers who might want work for 4 weeks, therefore if you both take the first week off for an annual holiday, you can then have a nanny for a few weeks.

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Families
pico1 · 28/01/2023 17:55

I still paid a nanny full-time when my children went to primary school. She obviously had most of the day off but there was no other way to do it.

toomuchlaundry · 28/01/2023 17:55

Do you know what other local families do? Would your nanny do after school and holidays?

NewNameFor2023 · 28/01/2023 17:56

Is there not a wrap around option for school? Breakfast and after school club?

titchy · 28/01/2023 17:56

Basically yes. I was fortunate in that I had 2 extra days at Easter and 4 at Christmas, but we only ever planned a one week holiday in the summer because we could never take any more leave together. We also did swapping with another parent - we had their kids for a few days one week, we had theirs a few days the following week.

NoSquirrels · 28/01/2023 17:57

It’s almost impossible to get ‘holiday clubs’ before reception age. So the first summer will be the most difficult.

You’ll need a spreadsheet. And wine.

angelopal · 28/01/2023 17:58

We use after school club term time and mix of annual leave and holiday club for holidays. We only have one week off in the summer together which is not ideal but saves money on holiday club.

SnowAndFrostOutside · 28/01/2023 17:59

It is possible if you pay. My children’s school has space on almost everyday in breakfast and after school club. There are also holiday clubs.

We used a childminder but have done holiday clubs occasionally when the childminder took holidays.

As long as your work is flexible it’s totally doable. You can move your leave around to cover days you can’t book a club. (Like inset days). Or sick days.

Also DH work is flexible enough he can swap weekends with work days. So for feb half term, he will work two Saturdays in exchange for two days during the half term. Is it possible for either of your work place?

Remember this doesn’t last very long. My DC can reliably entertain themselves from around year 5.

glowingstars · 28/01/2023 17:59

You can request parental leave - I think you can have up to 4 weeks per year (each). It’s unpaid though so may not work for you.

Beezknees · 28/01/2023 18:00

Are there local holiday clubs near you? I'm a single parent so obviously I have to work, I used to put DS in holiday club. There was one at school and another one at the local leisure centre.

Whinge · 28/01/2023 18:04

It’s almost impossible to get ‘holiday clubs’ before reception age. So the first summer will be the most difficult.

I agree. OP it's also worth checking what's on offer in your local area, as lots of holiday club providers also start from age 5, so even when they start reception, you may struggle depending on when your child was born.

Would it be possible to do just mornings at the preschool and have the nanny collect at lunch, then look after both children when the oldest finishes school? Then you still have her available to cover holidays / illness / strikes /INSET days etc?

LimeCheesecake · 28/01/2023 18:05

If you are relying on before/after school clubs, I’d look at using a childminder for one day for both dcs, because they are likely to priority those who are already on their books for holiday care.

edme · 28/01/2023 18:05

Well, another option is that you send DC2 to a private nursery - if you find one which has free space. They accept children up to preschool age and they usually operate 8 to 6, and on school holidays too.
You can get 30 hours per week free hours for 36 weeks per year, so you only pay for the extra hours in addition to the ones that you would otherwise get from the preschool attached to your DC1's school.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 28/01/2023 18:11

Pretty much yes, it's holiday care and annual leave. What you may find is that holiday clubs only take yr 1 and up so you'll need to look for private nurseries that offer holiday care instead. It's more expensive generally but only for a year or 2.

Hopefulbride18 · 28/01/2023 18:11

Yes it's the younger child that is going to cause the issue here because as others have said above the after school clubs/holiday clubs don't kick in until at least 4...

So I think it's either 8-6 nursery for the younger one or keep hold of the nanny!

The only other thing I can think of is asking on local Facebook groups to see if anyone is just able to do pick ups for you? But may not solve the holiday issues.

3WildOnes · 28/01/2023 18:12

I dint work full-time but on the days that I do work we pay for wraparound care with a childminder for the pre schooler and wraparound care at school for the middle one, the oldest can get himself to school and home again. In holidays I use a childminder for my pre schooler and clubs for my older two.

trilbydoll · 28/01/2023 18:13

I think you need to suck up the cost of the nanny for another year. There aren't any good options for a preschooler, holiday clubs won't take them until they're at school and if you don't use a childminder/private nursery in term-time it will be tricky to find one for holidays.

Once they're at school, yes, holiday clubs and you being clever with your holidays.

MyFlagMeansIceCream · 28/01/2023 18:14

Wrap around care at school in term time and paid holiday clubs / no joint holidays apart from 1 week a year

TheOtherBoleynGirls · 28/01/2023 18:14

Yep. Breakfast and after school club during the week. Holidays we do a bit of wfh with the kids there (I worked out it was cheaper to buy DS a new Lego set then pay for childcare!) on days where we can juggle our time a bit more; some clubs; but if sending them to grandparents for a few days; some swaps with other parents in the same boat. It’s hard.

WeAllHaveWings · 28/01/2023 18:18

We only had one dc and as well as taking separate holidays and using clubs we also used quite a bit of reciprocal childcare with other parents in the same situation. That will be more difficult with 2 though.

thismeansnothing · 28/01/2023 18:20

Breakfast and after school clubs.
Holidays are a mix of holiday clubs and either me or DH using annual leave

ivykaty44 · 28/01/2023 18:24

From September, we can’t justify a nanny for after school hours (nor do I think there are a lot of people looking for those hours, from what I can see) and there are no childminders who will just do pick ups in our area. So DH and I will have to fudge termtime with after school clubs and each working from home a few days a week, making up time in the evenings.

But what about school holidays?! We have no grandparents or other family help. Is it just lots of summer camps and me and DH taking annual leave at separate times? Any advice from those who have done/are doing it very welcome

use school wrap round care if there is something

school holidays use holiday clubs

or nanny share after school hours with another parent?.

Original poster
BlueAbacus · 28/01/2023 18:28

Really appreciate the perspectives, thank you!
Keeping a nanny on full time for part time hours is my last resort, obviously for ££ reasons, but it looks like we may be a year or so away from no childcare being realistic.
Good points about nanny shares/reciprocal childcare with another family during holidays.
Yes, intending to use after school club for sure during term time.

OP posts:
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