Nursery staff won't provide out of hours care?

[ThatMauveSquid]

My baby goes to a council run/owned nursery. I want to go out for dinner next week two nights on the go - with a friend. However baby will need looking after.

Everyone says to ask the nursery staff, which I'm 100% comfortable with them looking after the baby, but it's a council run nursery and I don't think they would be allowed to?

It would be so ideal if one of the workers I already know could do it :/

They probably aren’t allowed. But they might be happy to do it quietly. I just asked my son’s key worker when we were standing away from everyone and she said officially the answer is no, but she’d be more than happy to do it.

You haven't asked them yet? Maybe try asking them if there is any policy on staff doing babysitting out of their hours. I don't think they can say no technically unless council have put it in their staff contract that they can't do babysitting for children in their care.

But don't presume - ask first!

FYI it's an overseas friend who I really want to see. They don't feel comfortable being in a taxi but have a hotel very close to me. I'm working so able to see them briefly during the day but going out for dinner would be ideal. They could come to mine but I haven't been out for so long!

Can't see any reason why they wouldn't be allowed to babysit in their free time at your house if they wanted to, it would have nothing to do with their job at the nursery, you'd be paying them separately for the babysitting.

Just ask and see what they say.

I wouldn't want to get them into trouble :/

Because if there was an incident at my house than it might cause issue for the nursery.... Obviously no legal issue but with it being council etc.

Our nursery isn't council run but it says in our contract that we are not allowed to ask staff for out of hours care and there is a similar clause in their employment contract too. It's to prevent parents poaching staff as nannies/childminders.

Every nursery around us has that so I would be surprised if the council ones where any different.

All our baby sitters are working in nurseries other than the one the children go to, or are ex members of staff.

My nursery is less than £5 an hour so I can't see it being beneficial for staff to do work for others.... It's already cheap!

Who do I ask? The manager?

How about you actually ask someone first?

Because I don't want to make a mistake

My point was to check the T&C's of the nursery. It's a very common clause.

I don't remember that clause

That is crossing a professional boundary. Legally, they are covered to care for your child during nursery hours. They won't be after hours.
Those who have asked keyworkers to do this, or those who think this is ok, why?
What if something goes wrong, but you have to see that at nursery next day? What if you fall out?
Either find a neutral babysitter, or see friend at your house. The joys of parenthood....

How is asking someone going to be a mistake? It’s really either a yes or a no

Well then, both parties are walking on very thin ice.
But if she is happy to beak the rules of her employment and you are happy to leave your child with a dishonest person, then hey, that's marvellous

Honestly just ask them !

Yes, I was happy to leave my child with someone who knew him, and who my child knew, meaning that it was a stress free experience for all…so yes, it was marvellous actually!

Lol omfg

Of course they can say no. What on earth makes you think they would be forced to look after children after work? Local councils, as far as I am aware, do not force employees to do o.o.h. work with no right of refusal, we aren't quite living under a communist regime yet...

Everything alright there?

Most people are happy to have nursery staff that they’re already familiar with, as frequent/infrequent baby sitters. No one’s forcing anyone to do anything

I just feel ashamed or something. What if I get told of?

That's life with kids. You want to go out 2 nights on the trot. You don't have childcare, so you cannot go out. Your friend can come to you, though.
Life with kids means few opportunities to live your own 'best life'

My kiddo has been in 2 nurseries, one had a strict ‘no babysitting’ policy, the other is fine with it.

The issue is that some nurseries believe that their insurance might be claimed upon if an issue arose during babysitting, which is possible from a legal perspective (although not straight forward)

It wasn't allowed for our nursery staff to provide childcare out the setting but you can ask.