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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:

RavenclawsRoar · 21/01/2022 15:56

I'm in England and briefing for us is 8.15am too - bell rings at 8.25am for morning registration. So far I've only had to worry about nursery which opens at 7.30am so not too much bother. Now 4yo is at school, when I return to work after mat leave I will continue the nursery run with younger dc and dh is going to have to drop the 4yo at breakfast club which starts at 8am meaning I can't possibly do it. Luckily dh has a flexible start time. I do know some childminders offer drop offs in my area- they often are requested on the local parenting Facebook group but they have waiting lists as everyone needs them!

Kite22 · 21/01/2022 16:12

Well, when working around young dc and childcare you have to be more flexible.

You don't have to be in at 7.30, you are choosing to.
We've worked all sorts of different patterns over the years to accommodate both work and parenting, which has often meant periods of getting in really early and leaving early, or getting in by the skin of your teeth and staying later. It is the way of life whilst being a working parent.

Though, if all your school days start at 8.30am, then I would have thought local Nurseries and Childminder and live out nannies would all also be starting by 7.30 and presumably finishing the working day a bit earlier than those areas where school starts at 9am or 8.50am. Childminders are self employed and usually work to suit the clients.

Nowhereelsetogo90 · 21/01/2022 16:23

Why do you have to go in at 7:30? Are you UK based? I’m a teacher and go in at 8:30. Drop my DH at work at 8, my DSD to family member or to breakfast club at 8:15am then go to work at 8:30.

Mistressiggi · 21/01/2022 16:32

@Puffalicious I'm not sure if you're doubting me! I think the earlier start is often connected to having the early closing on Fridays.

LoopyGremlin · 21/01/2022 16:40

@Puffalicious
Edinburgh schools start early. I’m secondary and my registration class comes in at 8.25!

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 21/01/2022 18:53

@Nowhereelsetogo90

We have all staff briefing at 8am once a week and a safeguarding briefing at 7.50am once a week and tutor time at 8.20 every day!

Nowhereelsetogo90 · 21/01/2022 19:18

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Nowhereelsetogo90

We have all staff briefing at 8am once a week and a safeguarding briefing at 7.50am once a week and tutor time at 8.20 every day![/quote]
hope you are finishing early at least!

Applefruitcake · 21/01/2022 19:19

Are you sure a nanny wouldn't be suitable for you? It honestly sounds like the best option in your situation. Once you have 2 or more children, having a nanny actually ends up pretty much the same or even cheaper as 2x nursery fees. You won't need to rush to get them all ready in the morning, rush them to nursery/school, rush to pick them up again etc.

cansu · 21/01/2022 19:25

Your partner needs to be inconvenienced on some days so you share the load.
You find a childminder who will drop off 5 year old and take care of others.
You use a nanny but then what is point working if it will take all your money.
You find a nursery that starts earlier and put 5 year old in breakfast club.

Curlyreine · 21/01/2022 20:02

I had my children close together. I used a childminder when DC1&2 were small babies, then when DC3 was born, I stopped as childcare costs were too great compared to salary/hassle. I stayed at home (opened small business), had DC4 and then when DC4 was 3, I returned to school full time.

I am now in an incredibly fortunate position that 3/4 children now come to my school with me (other DC has autism so attends special needs school with taxi which brings them to my school at the end of the day which saves me rushing home). I have no family close by.

Our previous child-minders was just wonderful and we all adored her. She was caring and flexible with my term time only needs.

Good luck!

CinstonWhurchill · 21/01/2022 20:16

"@mnahmnah 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".

What???
Attendance officers often in work at 7-7.30 am for absences and safe guarding. Also teachers running booster clubs. Cover managers also start at 7am.

"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".

Did you and DH not consider this before you accepted the role?

I personally had a childminder when my DC's were very young. Full time 7am -6pm. Then on a paid retainer for the hours my children were at sch as they got older, breakfast and after sch hrs at full pay. I eventually moved my children into the sch's breakfast and after sch club when they started primary.

mnahmnah · 21/01/2022 20:20

@CinstonWhurchill

In your experience, maybe. Not in mine. Our attendance officer arrives the same time as others, 8.30. We don’t have any meetings or clubs before school. We are never expected to be there before 8.50 for briefing each morning. Reg for the students is at 9.00. I get in at 8.00. Some choose to get in at 7.30. None of us need to be though.

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/01/2022 20:53

You ask about at eldest school for nannies or cm

They take eldest to school and preschool and have youngest

Many cm or nannies happy to work term time

And childcare doesn’t just come out of your/mums earnings

It’s a joint thing. So add up your and dh icone. Subtract childcare

The rest is left

And yes for many they work to pay childcare for the first few years but keeps their career going

Puffalicious · 21/01/2022 21:55

[quote Mistressiggi]@Puffalicious I'm not sure if you're doubting me! I think the earlier start is often connected to having the early closing on Fridays.[/quote]
I definitely wasn't questioning you, just aghast!
LoopyGremlin I wondered how the Friday afternoon off thing works. I presumed it meant 4 late finishes. It must make for very difficult situations for staff with their own children. I'd hate it. Does breakfast club for primary open earlier over there?

LoopyGremlin · 21/01/2022 22:28

@Puffalicious
Breakfast club at my primary aged daughter’s school opens at 7.45 and school starts at 8.45.

Puffalicious · 21/01/2022 22:32

So 15 minutes earlier all round then. I would be cutting it very fine to drop at breakfast club and fight through the M8 traffic to get in for 8:20. I'd definitely be late some mornings, so I hope we don't move to your model of early starts. I'm also not a morning person!😴

Landof · 22/01/2022 07:18

I know you say a nanny would eat up your wage but 2 things.

By the time you've paid for before / after school care and nursery / childminder for the younger 2. It may actually be more cost effective to have a nanny.
Childcare isn't just out of your wages. You are 2 parents who work and therefore need childcare. It's a joint outgoing.

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