How much for after-school care in London?

[TheWholeCaboodle]

I was wondering how much to offer someone; to pick up my 4 year old from school one day a week at 3.30pm, and look after her until 6.30pm (taking her to activities, arranging playdates etc). Could you tell me how much you pay, and how it works with tax?

Thanks

I've paid
£8 gross/h to someone who was totally unexperienced but enthusiastic
£9 gross/h to someone who had 1-2 years experience but in a foreign country
£10 gross/h to the above two people after they'd been with us for 6 months and proved to be lovely and reliable
£12 gross/h to someone who had 8 years experience
£13 gross/h to the above person who then got Ofsted registered.

Thanks Novstar, that's really helpful. When you say gross, I'm assuming that you meant that they sort their own tax out on that, but that you have to pay NI?

No, they were employees and I have had to run a payroll and pay tax & NI on their behalf, for all of these. Plus employer's NI on top. I know some other people in the same area who only need 1-3 days' care and so manage to be under the PAYE threshold but I've never managed that.

Thanks Novstar

I pay £10 gross per hour, tax and NI done by a payroll agency so Employer NI is on top of that.

I am an after-school nanny in London, I charge £8.50 gross p/hr, but I take my DS with me and his evening meals are provided by my employer. If I didn't have my own child I would be charging £11 gross p/hr.

Thanks Mumtolawyer; how much does the tax and NI work at per hour for you?

Thanks Picklemyster; we've decided to go with £10 an hour gross; the candidate we're hoping will take the job has limited experience, and it will be a gap year job, so we think that it sounds fair.

I'm pretty sure that if you are only paying for 3 hours per week there will be no NI to pay. The tax (if any) is deducted from her gross pay so doesn't cost you any extra.

Mr Anchovy is the resident expert though. His website has a very useful calculator on it
www.mranchovy.com/calc/

Are you talking about someone who is registered like a c/m? in that case rates vary according to each c/m and they are self employed and pay own tax

I am afraid it is illegal to pay someone for care for over 2 hours in any day if they are not registered..unless she is a nanny employed by you.

Check these facts but I have not heard of any changes. They were put in place to stop unregistered carers calling themselves c/ms...

Thanks ceeveebee; will check this out.

Italiana, effectively she will be a nanny employed by us, for 3 hours once a week; she won't be looking after any other kids.