Could you help me identify what sort of childcare I need?

[DCSsunhill]

Evening...

I know it sounds like a daft question but I have ideas in my head and yet have no concept of whether they can be done!

I'm starting a new job in February. It will be three days work and two days at Uni. I'm guessing I might be out of the house until 6ish most days, although my two Uni days may be spent on home study occasionally.

I have 2 DC aged 8 and 6. They both do activities after school and in the evening that I really want them to continue. I'm a lone parent.

Is there scope to employ someone to work from 3 til 6pm most evenings? Someone who could pick up from school, do tea and hoemwork and then drop boys at various activities, leaving me to pick them up? If people do do this, what are they called? As in childcarers? Nannies?

I have even dabbled with the idea of an au pair....who could assist in the morning, would have all day free then do the few hours in an evening. Would that work?

I'm so sorry if i'm asking idiotic questions. I've been working school hours for the last few years since H left and so i've never really needed to collect a huge childcare knowledge.

I doubt you'd find a childminder to do that - the reason they are cheaper than nannies is because they look after several children at once (of different ages) usually in their own home and therefore aren't usually able to to ferry children to and from extra-curricular activities.

It is possible to get a part-time 'school-run' nanny but they can be quite expensive. We are in the South East and looked into this option but it would've cost around £15 an hour (once we'd allowed for tax NI etc). If you can afford it this would be perfect - reputable agencies can usually offer part-time nannies.

An au pair sounds like a good idea but I think you have to provide accomodation etc. On the plus side they usually offer offer a limited amount of baby-sitting in the evening if you need a night out!

Sorry - probably not much help. Someone else will be along soon.

if you have room for an au pair I think it could really work -especially with baby sitting -
some people on this board have also had similar arrangement with say post grad students - depends on where you are
you might find an older person looking for part time work that might do it as well - you would have to advertise locally I would think for it

Thank you. Some good suggestions there. I suppose I have a good few months to get sorted but would love the peace of mind knowing it's all in place.

My salary will officially be a bursary, which means I could apply for help from tax credits for child care. Can nannies be registered with Ofsted....again, sorry if it's a really thick question.

If you can guarantee to get back before 6pm, you could just use an afterschool club.
As for dropping off at activities, you might be best making arrangements with other parents, where they drop your DC and you collect theirs.
School holidays need considering too, although Uni holidays generally cover these, there will be a few e.g. half terms where you're studying and they're off.

Yes nannies can be registered with Ofsted, if they meet the criteria. The registration process can take a while sometimes, so if you need to use tax credits from the beginning of employing someone, then advertise for someone who is already registered.

Tax credits, assuming you qualify for them, can be used to help pay for the cost of employing a nanny who is on the Childcare Register including Employers NI cost and cost of payroll admin. See WTC2 and WTC5 booklets from HMRC for more about using tax credits to pay for childcare.

I think that if you have the space an au pair could be perfect for you. It seems a fairly classic AP job with the bonus of maybe a bit of housekeeping/receiving the Internet shop and the odd babysit.

It's no more hassle than a nanny from an employment perspective, they cost less in terms of actual pay and you get the babysitting. You could even have them register with OFSTED although that is a longish process and they would need to do various courses requiring a certain level of English.

The flip side is that you have someone in your home, the incidental costs are quite high e.g. a young driver on a foreign license if you need them to drive, us you'd need to give them a car to use, and they need more management.

How about a nanny with their own child? Often more cost effective.

Inmysparetime...my DC go to activities here, there and everywhere so it would have been lovely to mix and match with other parents, but it wouldn't work. Even though I'm going to Uni the course is running all the way through the holidays (it's an intensive Masters) and so yes, the hols are scaring me a bit also. However, the DC have previously just gone to a local sports club for the day.

Nannynick, that's fantastic info about tax credits and nannies. I'll see if I can download those booklets.

Fraktious, I live in a small house. three beds, one large living room and kitchen. I had thought about moving youngest DS into my room and Au Pair could have the box room. Could decorate it and make it homely. But we are very limited for space and I hadn't considered the car issue. Good point.

Someone suggested a school run nanny...which would also work. I wouldn't mind someone with their own child at all.

Thank you. Really appreciate your help. I really need someone from the course to explain how it all fits together so that I can work out how late home I will be.

Try advertising for a Mother's Help (that's what it's called round here anyway).