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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Are nannies ever interested in working term time?

13 replies

homemama · 06/11/2005 15:44

We have an almost 1yr old DS and I'm looking to go back to full time teaching soon. We're quite keen for him to continue with 1to1 care and feel a nanny may be the best option.

I was wondering whether nannies are ever interested in term time work as during hols I'd quite like him to myself.

TIA

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jules27 · 06/11/2005 16:26

Hi yes there are nanny's that do this kind of work , most of them are prehaps nanny's that have children them selves. Would you consider this . I have only done this type of work since having my daughter (now 15 and son 10) as i didnt want to work the holidays, especially as they got older and went to school . where are you?

homemama · 06/11/2005 16:42

Hi Jules. Thanks for answering. We're just in Hampshire on the Surrey boarder (near Camberley).

I've contacted 6 CMs in the area who all wanted full fees throughout the hols. Just wondered if nannies worked on the same principles.

I'd just like to spend the hols with him as I'll be working full time. Didn't realise I'd have to pay, thought it would be, say, 25% retainer or something.

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nannynick · 06/11/2005 16:43

I work as a nanny for family where both parents are teachers, so I do term time only. This works out great for all of us, I get some free time to do anything I like, and they get reliable childcare during term time.

I would suggest that if you want a nanny to work term time only, you indicate salary as a yearly figure. Then a good way of splitting it up is to do a monthly salary, so the nanny gets paid regardless of if they are actually working or not. While this may seem strange, it works out well for everyone, as typically teachers are paid monthly, with salary split over 12 months, so it makes it easier to budget for paying your nanny, if you pay them on the same basis.

You will need to explain it well to prospective nannies though, as it is different to agreeing a weekly or hourly salary. The nanny is technically paid a lower rate than perhaps normal for hours actually worked, but due to being also paid during holidays, it makes it up.

Something else to suggest, as you only have one child, perhaps doing a nanny share would be possible, perhaps finding another teacher at the same school who also requires childcare on the same days/hours. This would increase care ratio to 1:2 but it does help reduce the cost, as teachers are not currently able to benefit from the cost savings of using an Approved Nanny (hope the government change that soon!).

Good luck in finding a nanny.

homemama · 06/11/2005 16:47

Thanks Nannynick, paying pro rata would probably be a good idea.

Nannyshare sounds great in theory but not sure how it would work in practise. We're quite rural and I'm not planning to teach in a local school.

Thanks for your thought anyway.

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nannynick · 06/11/2005 16:48

I work in Windlesham, just up the road from Camberley. If you want to investigate a nanny-share, get in touch - tip: type my username into Google!

Childminders would require a retainer fee during holiday periods, this is due to them keeping the 'place' open for your child. I'm surprised that all the CM's you contacted want full fees throughout the holidays, though ultimately it is up to the CM as to what terms they dictate.

Nannies in general I feel would not require full-pay during holidays, but would like a retainer of some description. However, as I mentioned in my previous post, agreeing an annual salary for a nanny is the better way of doing things, as you all then know exactly what you are paying out/getting paid each month.

Nick.

jules27 · 06/11/2005 16:51

Sorry you are too far from me , i'm in beds. I agree with Nnnynick ,i was paid on an annual figure, this did mean that my monthly wages where less ,but i had holidays at home with my children. Do you not get paid this way in a school to? Good luck with finding a nanny.

homemama · 06/11/2005 17:03

Thank you both.

Jules, teachers are lucky in that we actually get paid for the 13wks holiday per year. So when we get paid in August, it isn't pro rata, it's actually for those wks off.

I'll do the google thing Nannynick, thanks.

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nannynick · 06/11/2005 17:24

I also know some nannies in the area, so if it's of help, could ask around to see if any of them who are looking for work, would be interested in term time only.

Do get in touch and I'll help you where I can to find your perfect soluition to your childcare requirement.

ThePrisoner · 06/11/2005 18:45

In defence of childminders, can I just say that I don't charge for children if they don't come during the school holidays, and am more than happy to do a term-time only contract. I do not charge any fees at all during the holidays, unless they want me to have children to give them a break (and will then just pay for whatever hours they have). Many of my childminding friends do the same.

I currently mind for three children whose mum is a teacher, and whose children I have had since they were babies. None of them ever came during school holidays, and they do not pay anything to keep their places.

goosey · 06/11/2005 19:19

Me neither ThePrisoner. I fill up holiday spaces with children who's parents need respite care so am perfectly happy to accept term-time only children without charging a retainer.

homemama · 06/11/2005 19:25

I wasn't having a go at CMs! Perhaps it's a regional thing in that if that's what the others locally do then the newbies do the same IYSWIM.

I'd be happy to pay a retainer it's just the thought of paying full fees for 13 wks that I don't need. I'd even be happy to pay for everything but the summer.

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ThePrisoner · 06/11/2005 19:29

Sorry, Homemama, I wasn't accusing you of "having a go"!! I just wanted people to know that we all work in different ways. Like Goosey, I have other children who come in the school holidays who don't need childcare in term-time. (Sometimes, if I'm very lucky - like during the last half-term - I had NO schoolchildren at all and no school runs ... it was party time for me!!)

NannyL · 07/11/2005 09:12

I know a term time nanny very well!

she gets paid full time, gets all the holidays off (tho has a 2 weeks (of parents choice) in summer at work (which they have NEVER yet used!)

They often ask her to work a day or 2 and the beg / end of the holiday as well, and the deal is she cant choose holiday in term time as she gets about 13 weeks off paid per year!

occasionlay if she is baord she may temp for a day or 2 here or there.

I think if YOU found a family who wanted school holidays only care (must be loads of families like that!) youd have no problem finding a nanny!

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