Child care

[blondiehip]

Mostly posting for traffic as I really need some help on this.

Although ages away, I have started thinking about child care for when my son starts school September 2020.

I currently work 3 days a week 10-6 and my partner works shift work. My mum currently looks after my son the days I work and the 2 days I have off, my son attends nursery in the afternoons.

My problem is a couple of things. My mum very graciously helps with my son for free as our income is fairly low. I am not entitled to benefits apart from CS. The cost of child care 3 days a week would be unaffordable for us.

My mum lives to far to help pick up my son from school when he eventually starts, so I'm back to the drawing board for child care. Although he goes nursery 2 afternoons a week, the only people who look after him is us and my mum and I worry what he would be like just starting school and a after school club. He also has a speech disorder which could improve by then but if not I worry about those in his care not understanding him.

Any ideas of what I can do with after school care from school finishong at around 3ish - 7pm 3 days a week that I could look into? I have no idea of costs. Also any ideas of jobs that could work around school hours? Im currently in admin. Thank you for reading this essay.

Local child minders do a pre and post school service.

A child minder might do until 6 but I think you’ll struggle to find one until 7. What about asking your employer if you can work 4 shorter days rather than 3 longer days?

Well, the obvious is to try to find work in a school but I know that’s not always easy.

I’d start looking for a school hours job now - we are often recruiting for admin/reception type roles.

We have several people working term time only 10-4 (so only need a CM briefly for wraparound).

You may struggle until 7. Most child care closes at 6pm. After school programmes often close at 5.30. I would look into child minders;most only serve a specific school) and also if there is any chance of changing hours

Childminder? It's what most people do.

As an aside, why does your mum look after him and then he goes to nursery when you're off? Wouldn't it make sense for him to go to nursery while you work?

Just realised you do 3 days - could you do 5 days 9.30 to 2.30 instead?

Most schools do wrap around care - breakfast clubs from 7/7.30am and an evening club until 6/6.30pm

I don't know of any childcare until 7pm. My ds goes to after school club until they close at 6pm. It's about £8 for an afternoon so very cheap.

Changing hours is something I'm looking into but unfortunately it will be hard. I wanted to cover all bases.

I did think 7pm is late and to be honest I don't really want him out that late but what can you do?

Good shout about admin in schools. Where would they advertise roles?

Eteach for state schools.

The ISBA for independent schools.

Which area are you in roughly?

Perhaps ask nurses midwives etc what they do when shifts longer x

Both you and your partner should look to formalise your shift patterns. If you can’t move the 10-6, then can he request a change? I get shift work can be hard, but maybe he can request 8-4 on specific days you work so you’re overlapping each other?

Have you got a spare room for an au pair?

Don’t most schools have afternoon club until 6:30-7?
Alternatively the obvious solution is to spred your work hours so you would work 4 days, 10-4, you will definitely find after school childcare until 5 (assuming your commute is 1h).

Haha, after school clubs until 6.30/7pm?

Where do you live where this happens?

I would use a childminder term time only and ask your mum to have him in the holidays along with you and your partner taking leave

Could your mum mind DC at your house after school?

Also friends mums sleeps at daughter house the days she works

I had a friend in a similar position and she changed her hours so she was working more days but shorter hours and also did some WFH. She does have some family help on both sides but on the other hand her DH works 7-7 in a completely unflexible job. When her DC were younger her mum, who lives a couple of hours' drive away, used to come up one day, stay the night and look after the DC the next day. I know a few people who have that sort of arrangement.

I'm sure you're aware but do bear in mind: schools don't have to offer wrap around; the hours vary (I have never heard of it starting before 7.30am or finishing after 6pm and I'm in an area with loads of commuters); places are often limited and there may not even be places for reception children. Some schools also expect up to a month of part time days for reception "settling-in" (legally you can refuse part days but it's awkward). Although our DD happily goes to wrap around, she found it tough for the first few weeks so DH ended up taking most of September off.

I would strongly suggest you discuss with DH how he will need to share some of this inconvenience.

Also, depending when your DC's birthday is, another thing to bear in mind is that holiday clubs often won't take DC under 5 so you will need a plan for October half term, Christmas half term, February half term etc etc.

Don’t most schools have afternoon club until 6:30-7?

I can't say i've ever seen after school care that runs any later than 6.30pm. Most are 6pm, which is plenty long enough, considering some the age of the children who attend. I can't see there being much call for 7pm pick ups, it would be an insanely long day for a start.

All nurseries and childminders round these parts close at 6-6:30pm. You'll have to change job/hours. Ask in the the school reception for childcare providers/after school club details.

places are often limited and there may not even be places for reception children.

This is definitely worth keeping in mind, as is the staggered start dates.

An after school nanny would work. Maybe one who already works part time and only needs a few extra hours a week.

We work opposite shifts. On a good month we get 2 days off together. Some months it’s less. I have an agreement that there are days I don’t work because dh does. Then he starts early to finish early and does school pick ups. I start after 9 when I’ve dropped them off (3 kids at 3 schools). It’s hard grabbing a couple of hours family time here and there, taking the kids out alone a lot otherwise we’d all just sit in the house.
There is a 24hr child minder a couple of miles away from us, but I don’t think she would cover our school for pick ups. Good to know they exist though.

After school care provided by the school or a child minder seem obvious options. The expensive bit will be holidays, depending on how much your mum can help.

Childcarers are used to dealing with DC with speech and language issues.

Childcare isn’t the only consideration: others include your personal medium and long term earnings and pension. You say “partner”: are you married? If not, you have already taken big financial risks by going PT.

Depending on your qualifications and experience, it’d be sensible to seek whatever work has the best financial prospects. Office admin, especially if there are prospects to progress, is likely to be better on that score than flexible hours roles, eg in schools.

In your situation, I would probably seek to do more days work but finish early, then reduce hours slightly during holidays, and split annual leave with DP.