Options for school age childcare

[WindyAnna]

Hi everyone

My DD is in infant school and DH and I both work. From the time I went back to work I have had nannies, I strongly believe that was the next best thing to parental care and though it was a struggle to afford it we did it as I could not be out of my profession for any amount of time as I would never get back into it. Now DD is in school I need to think about what options I have, I can't afford to keep paying a nanny, nor is it sensible to do that given that I would only need one for 2 hours a day plus school holidays.

What are my options? School has after school care until 6 pm but that doesn't cover holidays. I also like the fact that my DD has been able to do activities and clubs.

Am I just after having my cake and eating it? All the benefits of a nanny with only half of the cost?

All comments gratefully received!

Windy xx

Have you considered an au pair?

Also need to consider what you would do if she was poorly and not at school or school closed etc?

The summer holidays are not usually a problem with day camps at local leisure centres when children are 5. Nurseries also run holiday camps and then a combination of parents holidays when the children are off usually solves the problem.
Or find a local childminder or nanny willing to do adhoc care in an emergency or the holidays(this is what I will do) or you could try advertising on gumtree and childcare.co.uk for a holiday nanny/nanny share with another family.

Sounds exactly right for an au pair to me too. You can cover school holidays with a mix of holiday clubs, family holidays and additional hours, child off school works if the AP is flexible.

Think your choices are either a cm, altho they can not normally look after sick children, or if you have space in your house then an au pair :)

Thanks everyone!

No space for an au pair unfortunately so not an option :(

I can take odd days off to cover when DD is off ill, and at the moment I am doing this more to cover nanny sickness than child sickness! Nanny due to leave shortly hence my dilemma.

Other problem is my daughters holidays are longer than most other local schools and the clubs just tend to cover the core times. This does actually mean though that a nanny/cm ends up working (and earning!) about 20 full weeks per year which isn't bad?

I think probably advertising the job and seeing what I get is the best plan. Thanks again.

Windy x

Depending on where you are (London mainly) there are people looking for live out au pair roles - they are paid more as you are not providing their living expenses but still less than a nanny.

Have you thought about a child minder, as some one said, most will not take a sick child as for example chicken pox or D & V,
But coughs and sniffles, I still take them.

Many childminders work thro the school holidays, many work from 8 till 6, but some will start and finish earlier. You do need to look around.

The Family Imformation service is a good place to look or
www.childcare.co.uk another
or www.childmindinghelp.co.uk is another.

good luck

I think your best option would be a childminder. I am a childminder and can start early or finish late or even provide overnight care. I do school drop offs and pick ups. As to school hols I'd be happy to have a child but so far I've only had term time contracts only. As long as your child is in full time education a childminder won't mind doing 2 hours of care per day or so as we can have more than one child at a time. The only thing that you will be losing out is care in your own home. Childminders can only work from their own home.

I was in the same situation once youngest went to school. We have a Housekeeper/Nanny who works 7:30-12:00 and then 2:00-6:00. She also does all the cleaning, laundry and errands. We have an arrangement where if one of the children is sick or it is school holidays she works 12-2:00 and gets paid. Seems to suit a lot of people who want part-time work and is going well.

we had a nanny with her own child who worked 2-7 in term time but full days in holidays, when child off sick etc. We paid her the higher of 40 hours or hours actually worked each week - so that in effect she was being paid a retainer for the term time mornings. we sometimes asked her to come in to wait for deliveries etc as well. this worked well for us - gave us the benefits of a nanny for a lower cost and it worked for her because she got to spend most mornings with her child.