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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Teachers! How do you manage childcare?

92 replies

Leslienope · 20/01/2022 12:59

So I have 3 children (1, 3 and 5). 5 yo is in reception, 3yo and 1yo at nursery. Am going back to work 3 days a week shortly.

I have to be at work by 7.30 (I'm a teacher) and it's a 30 min drive. DH works with Asia so has 8am meetings every day and a 1 hour commute to the office.

Has anyone got any other childcare solutions other than a nanny? I just don't know how to get them where they need to be and get myself to work as well...

OP posts:

BrambleRoses · 20/01/2022 13:01

Do you have to be at work at that time or is it preference? That’s a really early start. I used to like getting in early but I just can’t now. What childcare do you have your one year old and three year old in?

Yuckypretty · 20/01/2022 13:01

Child minders do drop offs to school/nursery. Have a look on Facebook there might be a local childminding group.

Landof · 20/01/2022 13:05

Could you use a nanny for your working days? They could drop 5yo to school and pick up, 3yo to pre school / nursery for free hours and have the 1 yo all day. This was the exact set up I had working for a teacher years ago who had those aged children. I stayed for 3 years. It worked well.

Otherwise, your husband will have to negotiate later starts some days. Maybe 2 days later start, you could go in later 1 day and then obviously your 2 non working days are covered too.

You could look for before/ after school nanny but they are generally harder to find due to them needing longer hours.

Lavender2021 · 20/01/2022 13:06

My area early childcare is a nightmare. Most places don't open before 8am. Some nurseries open at 7am but very few. Childminder or nanny is your best chance.

fruitpastille · 20/01/2022 13:10

Childminder from 7.15 and get to school later.

BrambleRoses · 20/01/2022 13:11

Our nursery opens at 730, but it always feels like a frantic rush. I used to work somewhere briefing started at 815 - glad I’m not there now!

SGBK4682 · 20/01/2022 13:12

A nanny might be your best option, especially with 3. It could work out cheaper too, than a childminder. And you can ask them to do what you want - a childminder tends to have set hours and set routines and is likely to have other children. .

When I had one in nursery for half days I still had to pay the CM the full rate (so I sometimes used them in the holidays). An after school childminder charged less but that won't work for your situation.

In years to come, a school with a good breakfast and after school club works well. At my kids primary you could book the next day on a one off basis, so we only used the breakfast club when neither of us could take the kids to school.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 20/01/2022 13:13

Do you really have to be in at 7.30? Is your school on a unusual schedule ie 2.30 finish or something?
I get in at 8.25…

Fritilleries · 20/01/2022 13:15

I'm a teacher and I get in at 8. You need to sort yourself out a bit better workwise if you're in that early.

BasementIdeas · 20/01/2022 13:18

Why do teachers have different childcare arrangements to anyone else? Surely this is just a normal childcare question

Can DH WFH some days for the Asia call? So he can drop the kids at childcare for 7.30 and be back home and logged on by 8

Otherwise what time does your lessons start? Do you have to be in for 7.30 or is it preference?

Howshouldibehave · 20/01/2022 13:21

I’m in for 7.30, but I work 5 minutes away from home and DH WFH so gets the kids up and out. You have a much longer commute!

Can’t you find a childminder who does school drop offs and get in later?

BungleandGeorge · 20/01/2022 13:22

Do you have to run the breakfast club? If not, what time do you actually have to be there? It’s nice to get in early and miss the traffic but usually not an option. Most nurseries are open by 7.45 or 8 so might be worth shopping around for an early one

Nowayoutonlydown · 20/01/2022 13:28

I wonder if you're one of DDs teachers, her school is unusual in the fact they start lessons at 8am 4 days a week.

Is there an older female lady around that you may be able to pay?

We had a lady who had always been a stay at home mum whilst her husband worked, kids have left home and have children of their own. DD is a fair bit older than yours but the lady would pick her up and drop her off at school, it supplemented her pension, and she was happy to get away from her now retired husband for a short time each day!

TBH it's hard to find a solution when starting work that early (I have to leave at about 6. For younger kids it's nigh on impossible, however I could get dog care for DDog for the hours I'd need lol)

Phineyj · 20/01/2022 13:32

I am a teacher with only one DC but I've never got in post DC before about 8.15 for this reason (and that was using a nursery nearer work than home). Yes it makes mornings stressful but what can you do when most childcare opens at 8? I make sure I've left things as ready as possible the day before and am resigned to working in the evening, plus I have a printer at home.

However my DH has been prepared to be flexible too. I'd be pretty pissed off if he'd left it all to me in termtime, considering I cover most of the school holidays!

A nanny who can drive would be less stressful though.

BungleandGeorge · 20/01/2022 13:35

If you just want someone to take them to school/ nursery an au pair would be an option?

mumofmunchkin · 20/01/2022 13:44

We used to have a childminder who would take kids at 7am. There might be one that does school drop offs.

For the two younger ones, you could look at a nursery close to work rather than to home.

Byebyeboris · 20/01/2022 13:52

You use a nanny or childminder like everyone else has to and be happy that you chose a career path that gives you so many holidays. It’s got to be one of the best professionals for sorting childcare. As all your children move into being a school it should hopefully improve for you.

SmolCat · 20/01/2022 13:52

Is there an older female lady around that you may be able to pay?
This sounds like something Martin from Friday Night Dinner would say.

Was it just a random person? Not a registered childminder?

mnahmnah · 20/01/2022 13:54

I haven’t heard of a school where you need to be in at 7.30. We have to be there for 8.50, many people with children fly in at last minute. It just means getting everything organised and set up the night before.

BrambleRoses · 20/01/2022 13:54

Why do teachers have different childcare arrangements to anyone else

We don’t, particularly, but everyone always says what a wonderful job it is when you have children and it can be but is totally, completely inflexible.

The other problem is that it is very difficult to adhere to school hours. I get in at around ten past eight, and it always feels like a completely frantic rush before I register my form at 8:40 (I am supposed to be there at 830 and of course my form room is on the other side of the school.)

Butchyrestingface · 20/01/2022 13:56

As a child, I used to get dropped off at a family friend's home before and after school. Their kid was a year older than me and at the same school so we either walked to school or got taken by one of her relatives.

NerrSnerr · 20/01/2022 13:57

Do you need to be in at 7.30 or is that a preference?

Our local nursery opens at 7.30, but that won't help with the 5 year old (unless there's an early breakfast club at school?)

Have you explored local childminders?

MichaelAndEagle · 20/01/2022 13:58

I would see if there is a local childminder who will start at that time.
Otherwise if it is preference to be in at that time you might have to rethink that bit.

BashfulClam · 20/01/2022 13:59

Some childminders do this but this is actually a gap in the market that someone should set up.

canyoutoleratethis · 20/01/2022 14:00

@SmolCat

Is there an older female lady around that you may be able to pay? This sounds like something Martin from Friday Night Dinner would say.

Was it just a random person? Not a registered childminder?

Oh, the late, great Paul Ritter!!

Lovely bit of squirrel….

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