Reciprocal Childcare - Does it work?

[smeraldina]

Have put this on the 'Mums wanting childcare' thread - but wanted to ask people's advice generally. We have a part-time nanny - and I need to get a bit more work done than I am already. Does anyone successfully do a sort of shared childcare with a friend - eg. they look after both children for one afternoon - and then a friend does the same.

I can't yet find any of my friends who are up for this although one is possibly interested - if it has worked for anyone - do you have any advice.

And if anyone is interested in such an arrangement do get in touch! I'm in North Oxford - and have a one year old boy

Two of my friends did this for a bit, and it worked until one of the boys (they were school age, it was post school) started wanting to have other friends round, getting bored with the other's company, etc. But beware this (can't do links):

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ofsted-has-lost-the-plot-over-childminding-case-1 794605.html

Seems such a shame.

Reciprocal arrangement for no reward are now okay (thankfully). The loophole that got the policewomen into trouble has now been stitched up!

I did shared childcare with a friend when our daughters were at nursery (FS2) last year, mornings only. We took the other's child plus our own for lunch and afternoon (until school pick-up time) one or two afternoons each week. It worked very well for us as we were both self-employed at the time, and knew we could count on an extra day or two to work each week, and our children were good friends at nursery and were very comfortable in each other's houses. We're in Oxford too by the way. I think I can work really well if you find a like-minded parent and both have clear expectations of how you see the arrangement working. We knew our own arrangement would probably only last for a year or so until the children started Reception. We still do 'child swaps' in the summer holidays, but it isn't useful as 'childcare' any more as we both have older children as well.

Many thanks for this -- sorry not to have replied. I was on holiday.

Inspiring that it has worked for someone.

Now I just need to find someone who is interested. I've put an ad on the gumtree, an ad here, and am asking any friends I can think of but they are all currently sorted with either nursery or nannies. Unfortunately it's not playgroup season, so it's hard to hunt unknown mother's down....will have to go and hang out by the swings