What to do when your kids all at school

[vivat]

I have three children and the youngest will be going to full time school in Sept. I have a lovely nanny who has been with us for 9 years - would love to keep her, but she will have no kids from 9.15 to 3.30 every day and I can't really justify paying someone for full time childcare when 60% of their time will be on their own. Ideally I would like someone to do school drop off (8/9.15am) and pick up (3.30-7pm) and some school holidays. I'd also like someone who would help around the house (probably longer hours in this case) - does this sort of role exist ? Realise it's more housekeeper than nanny, but kids are older now and I'd really like some of my chores done when I get home if I'm paying someone all day !

What do other people do in this situation? Thanks in advance

Nanny share to keep your existing nanny? You might be able to negotiate more housekeeping, cooking etc seeing as she's been with you so long.

Nanny housekeepers do exist but people tend to be good at one part of the job or the other.

Otherwise most people at that point downgrade to an au pair if they have the space or find a nanny, possibly with own child, who's okay with split shifts. If you want them on call for sickness during the day you'll need to pay some kind of retainer.

It also gets more complicated working out holiday entitlements etc if they're working PT in the week and FT some holidays.

Nanny to take on Pa role? Food shopping, booking alarm people etc? It's what I did for the first year children were all at school, and was on call if one of them was ill and off school.

Keep nanny and reduce costs by finding a share. With saings, hire a cleaner. Same cost to you. You get cleaning. Nanny maintains her income whilst still looking after children and not becoming a cleaner.

I've already asked her to do the PA role, as youngest is already at nursery half days. However she just doesn't do it, to be fair she is a nanny not a PA - but spends a lot of time reading the paper and doing emails etc. I love her to bits and so do the kids, and can cope with it at the moment, but think i'm going to get resentful when all the kids are out all day.

I am in exactly the same position as you at the moment. Like you I can cope with it this year whilst my youngest is at nursery half days. I don't see how you could find a nanny share from September or nanny with own kids as the nanny will have 4 children after school pick up and all day in the holidays. I am not sure many nannies would find that attractive! I am thinking about finding a nanny who is also studying - that way, she would be free to study all day but perhaps pick up after school and to look after kids all day in the holidays.
I will watch this thread to see if anyone else has some ideas

That's a good idea fruitcorner, but my current nanny will be a hard act to follow, especially for a trainee. Oh it's so difficult...thanks for all replies

Advertise her out as a nanny share, maybe for term time only. You may think that the hours are not attractive , but 9.30 - 2.45 could really appeal to someone with a baby or toddler who is starting their own business or studying at home.

Why not put it on the freelancers board and see if anyone is interested?

See fruitcorner I would do that, if I were in a position to. I'd seriously considering returning to nannying if we got posted somewhere it were possible. My DC1 wioukd be ~18 months by then and I like working with older children, will happily prepare meals for parents as well as kids, shove on laundry for both, run errands etc, and given that I'd have plenty of time for my child in term time during the day, I'd be fine with neglecting it a little and having 4 in the holidays.

Plenty of nannies work with 4 child families. It just needs a bit if logistical organisation!

Nannies with own children often seek stability as well so if the arrangement is beneficial for both parties (and the logistics aligned wrt schools etc) then it can continue for a very long time.

That's good to know GFM