After-school nannies - how easy it it?

[annh]

DS2 starts school in Sept but will only go until noon up to Christmas. From Jan, both boys will be in school until 3.15 and as I can drop them at school in the mornings, I will only need a few hours after school childcare. As we have always had a nanny and they are used to coming home to their own house, changing out of uniform etc. I would really like to continue that but appreciate that our current nanny couldn't survive on that reduced salary. SO, can anyone tell me how easy it is to find an after-school nanny, give me an idea of the hourly cost (we are in Surrey)and also advise how half-terms, holidays etc work. I am resigned to having to cover illness myself and we usually take at least some time off at half-term anyway but is there such a miraculous thing as a nanny who covers after school but will also do some full days for holiday cover? Sounds like a tall order.

If you are used to paying for the nanny, can't you continue? There are 12 weeks of holiday, plus sickness etc. to consider. You might not save as much as you think and create a whole lot of hassle for yourself.

Would your nanny be interested in doing something else in the morning - my SIL is a nanny and stayed with the family when the youngest started school and did reduced hours combined with a degree (which I think employers paid for - but didn't pay for the hours she didn't work).

Hi there where abouts in surrey are you ?

The position is probably most suited for a nanny who wanted to bring her baby (and that tends to be the most common situations where I've seen it in operation). Some agencies tend to have more nannies in this position than others - if you're near the London border of surrey I can recommend an agency.

agree.... most nannies simply could not survive on 4 hours work a day... but it may suit a nanny with a child who only wants to work a few hours a day.

could you not keep your current nanny? (the you have cover in the holidays etc)

im very lucky.... im paid full time despite the fact that in term time i dont start until mid day... this time next year when youngest startsschool i wont be starting until 3.30

i am always availiable IF the children are ill, and i cook and do the kids ironing etc in that time and do the supermarket shopping

but to be fair... that takes just a few hours a week
the rest of the time is my own!

that suits me and my boss who knows she ALWAYS has cover

I advertised on Simply Childcare for afterschool in term time and full time in holidays and short notice cover in term time. I had quite a few replies and out of those there were 3 that we seriously considered.

They were all people who had done nannying in the past and now had older children (teenagers and older).

The lady we have found has worked out well - her children are grown up and she has grandchildren but worryingly she is only a couple of years older than me

Thanks for all the replies. Mummyof2, we are near Woking in Surrey.

Truth be told, I really can't afford to keep the nanny on fulltime. At the moment, it really doesn't pay me to work at all but I choose to do so because I love my job and because it fits in well with our lives (in so far as work and children ever fit together!) It is a short commute, I start about 10 mins late each day so I can drop the boys at school, it's a family-friendly company etc. I was prepared to accept working to pay the nanny for a couple of years but don't think I can justify it to anyone to continue like that for the next 6/8 years. Worst case scenario, it could be that I will have to stop working although I will certainly have a look at Simply Childcare to see what's on offer - and any other suggestions that anyone else can come up with!

Have you considered using a childminder? Most childminders do school pick ups and provide an after school snack and games/activities. It would be a fixed fee normally for after school care but a lot less expensive than a nanny.

sorry, forgot to mention that I also only work 4 days a week so am already paying our nanny for a day that I could probably do without. If I kept on a fulltime nanny, I really would be paying for a HUGE chunk of time that I don't need.

Would consider a childminder although I suppose we have been somewhat "spoiled" in being able to have the boys in their own home when not at school. I think the school day is long enough for them and it's nice to be able to chill out and do what they want afterwards. Also would a childminder be able to cope with after-school activities (one of which won't even be at achool) - probably not?

I don't take after school children myself but I know that my son's childminder does and her house is fabulous with a large paradise of a garden for children and quiet areas with tv and playstation as well as lots of games and books etc
She takes children to brownies, is about to buy a 7 seater car and am sure would accomodate any requests if she were able to. I think it would depend though on the amount of minded children present and their collection times.

I would say to look for a childminder too, as this is the sort of work we do all the time, and anyone who takes on schoolchildren will be geared up for it with regard to activities/toys.

We can do before school, after school, school holidays, school pick-up if child unwell, inset days ...

I guess your only problem would be your childrens' own afterschool activities, which you would have to ask individual childminders about. Some of my mindees have activities after school, so we have to sort out who picks up etc.

Because the hours which the nanny will have to work we are usually paid more per hour. Not really sure what the salary is like in Surrey but in London around £8 an hour net is the norm.