Going to have to turn job down again as I cant find a childminder!

[roseandthorn]

My dd goes to preschool in the morning from 9-15 to 12-15,I have been offered a job 11.30 to 1.30 so could change dd to afternoon.

I have cover monday and friday,but it means I need childcare for 1 hour from 11am tue,wed,thurs and for dd to be dropped of to preschool .

The lady is coming back to me next week and I have no childcare agin ,this is the second time,what should I do?.

Could you do a reciprocal arrangment with another parent at the pre-school - offer to have their child at certain times in exchange for them having yours?

Is it that you're not paying enough? If somebody offered me that job I'd take it.

Sinkingfeeling I dont know anyone there well enough to do that arangement.

VS I have not discussed money but would pay the rate and petrol etc.

Where abouts in the country are you rose? Is it the childminder that is getting back to you next week? And the job starts now? Or is it the job getting back to you next week and you havent got a childminder?

I think your problem is it's 1hour 3 times a week so no CM will take it as your DD will still take up an under 5 space that she couldn't fill with a full timer or more convenient PT care that fits. What kind of care are you looking for?

sorry pressed post to quickly.

As a temp measure could you put dd into preschool for am and pm sessions until you can find another childminder? I know that is going to be expensive but if it means you can take the job then could it be worth it in the long run. Then you have a bit of breathing space to find a cm.

none of the CM i know would take on a child for such short hours.

Could you take her out of preschool some days nad have her spend longer with a CM?

Or find a different nursery with longer hours?

I think you will need a solution that doesn't rely on the preschool - these work well for SAHM but are usually no good if you are working.

where are you?

I live in hants,and bnjp its the job coming back on monday.

I just need someone to look after dd for 1 hour and take her tp preschool thats all.

I could pull her out of preschool and put her with cm but she loves preschool,I think I will just have to let them know.

Cant you pay for extra sessions at preschool? Ours will take children for a full school day if the parent pays for lunch and the extra session (one session a day is free)

Bnjp I did think about that,she will get funded from May,I will get paid £5 a hourly so £50 per week,also I work Saturdays and get paid £60 for 8 hours.

I would be working for nothing untill then,although its a big company and its term time only.

Sometimes you have to go with the no pay in the short term with the long term game. She will not be in pre-school for ever - possibly for 1.5 years max.

Would it not be possible to change the working hours on the three days you cant get it covered? Or pay for your daughter to be in the pre-school all day? You may have to pay a childminder for all afternoon as they could have a child in the morning who goes to nursery in the afternoon. My ex CM got a variation to have four over the lunchtime as it was only for two days a week and for an hour.

There is always a way round things but as you say you could be working for nothing, but still working, paying NI and getting your stamp.

Thank you everyone,have decided that I will take bnjp's advice and she will go all day three days a week,and the other is covered by family for two hours, I wont be out of pocket much and in the long term its best for the dc's.

Explained to the preschool and they have the space,they will keep it open for two weeks,whilst I discuss with new employer.

Thank you xx

thats great rose. And good luck in your new job!

Thank you very much.