What should I be looking for?

[SandStorm]

I'm one for forward planning as I won't need childcare until September next year (2011) but I've no idea what exactly I should be looking for.

I will need someone to have dd2 from about 7.30/8am to get her to school (dd1 is self sufficient in the mornings) and then again to pick up from school and ferry around various after school activities where relevant, or just take her home until I get there at about 5.30 in the evening.

It would be term time only but I would need someone all day on inset days (although if push comes to shove I could always call on the kindness of neighbours).

I would also like someone who could prepare the children's evening meal and be prepared for dd2 to have friends home for tea from time to time. Also, would a little bit of cleaning be too much to ask (I genuinely don't know what the ropes are here).

Children will be 13 and 8 (both girls if that makes a difference).

So, what would I be looking for? Would an afterschool nanny do the morning stint as well? A childminder presumably would be no good as I want someone to have my children in my own home. What does a mother's help do? Or would I need a full time live out nanny?

Any advice for a very confused potential childcare needer (is there such a word?) would be appreciated.

Oh, and it would be a permanent position.

Au pair if you have space for live in? Typically 5 hours childcare/household tasks (but avoid Romanian/Bulgarian au pairs needing an au pair visa as they can't do FT in holidays).

Nanny/housekeeper?

I don't think the hours are enough to justify a FT nanny! You may find someone wuth their own child willing to be flexible and cover holidays, insets, illness. But a nanny probably wouldn't clean.

With the split shifts you probably need someone live in or someone live out FT but that would be expensive for essentially 4 hours childcare per day.

My immediate thought upon reading your opening post was: What's your budget?

Without knowing what sort of amount you could afford to pay, it will be hard to suggest things... as we could well say that your solution is to have a nanny - the cost however will be measurable in the £thousands.

Knowing the rough location can also help, as costs vary around the country and also the likelihood of finding someone local to do the job.

While what you currently want would rule out a childminder, don't rule it out completely as you may need to modify your requirements to be able to find someone to care for DD2. The before school bit for example may be something a local childminder would consider doing if they already take children to DD2s school. You could then find someone else to do the pickup, prepare evening meal.

For now keep things open as you may find someone ideal to do the afternoon who has other commitments for the morning.