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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

AD-HOC CHILDCARE

28 replies

Cherryblossom · 07/03/2006 14:34

I am a registered childminder in the Staines area. If anybody requires ad-hoc childcare please get in touch. Maybe you fancy a shopping trip without the kids or a nice long leisurely lunch with friends. Maybe you'd love to visit the hairdresser or perhaps you feel poorly and would love someone to take the little ones off your hands for a while. Whatever the reason, maybe i can help. No long term contracts or fixed weekly fees. Can provide references.

OP posts:

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CountessDracula · 07/03/2006 14:35

What a good idea I wish someone did this in our area (East Sheen)

NomDePlume · 07/03/2006 14:36

I agree this is a great idea.

kitegirl · 07/03/2006 14:37

I need someone to do this in Dulwich/Crystal Palace/Forest Hill!

madmarchhare · 07/03/2006 14:39

The lovely nursery near us does it . I havent used it yet .

Twiglett · 07/03/2006 14:43

ha .. I was going to do this when I was childminding (in Dulwich btw) .. but I got pregnant instead

RedTartanLass · 07/03/2006 15:11

Brilliant idea.

uwila · 07/03/2006 15:11

A lot of childminders do this sort of thing, CD. You might want to contact a few in your area and see if some do this. When we lived in Epsom and used a childminder, she used to babysit sometimes. This was great if we ere going out on a Friday because I'd just rop the house key off with DD in the morning and she'd bring her home and put her to bed. I loved this service.

Original poster

Cherryblossom · 07/03/2006 16:15

Well i'm glad this post has had a positive response so far. Lets hope others in my area think so and get in touch! I think i will put some leaflets in local GP surgery and Toddler groups etc.

OP posts:

Flossam · 07/03/2006 16:35

I'M RATHER hoping there might be a chilminder in our rew area who might care for DS for an afternoon on a weekend once a month...

janett · 07/03/2006 23:36

hi everyone..I live in hackney if anyone would like the odd time away from nappies and bottles. I charge by the hour. Fully qualified..c.r.b check.Eperienced with newborns upwards.

getbakainyourjimjams · 08/03/2006 15:04

A mnetter does this :o has ds3 for me :)

getbakainyourjimjams · 08/03/2006 15:04

oh and ds1! :) :)

getbakainyourjimjams · 08/03/2006 15:08

Lots of CM will consider it if you ask as well- The mnetter who does it for me lives in the next town, so I asked around locally and have someone just up the road who will do the same. It works well- I need flexible help with our family circumstances so I have a little team of people I can call on (also have people who can come in ad hoc). It's worth taking time to build up that sort of support network. I don't really have any friends I can ask for help as they all have disabled children so enough of their own problems, but this way I have people I can ask to look one or two of the kids as and when we need help, and they become friends, but I don't have to feel guilty about asking for help because I'm paying!

littlenutmeg · 11/03/2006 07:28

Do you still need to have a contract for ad hoc minding?

ayla99 · 11/03/2006 07:43

You should have some sort of written agreement if you don't have a contract - helps to avoid any misunderstandings. I just use a booking form for parents to sign their agreement to the days/hours booked, if they want any meals provided, how much they are going to pay and when it must be paid by (either all up front if its just a few hours or a deposit with weekly instalments for summer holiday bookings) & to sign that they have read and agree with the terms in my handbook.

Very handy arrangement for parents who have training courses, extra meetings or hospital/optician appointments or hair/beauty appointments etc.

And I can recall a very awkward dental appointment with my 4 month dd in tow - I never thought of asking a childminder at the time!

HappyMumof2 · 11/03/2006 09:27

I'm available for ad-hoc care too. I'm an Ofsted registered childminder, also NNEB qualified and mum of two. I am in Islington,N16.
If interested, please contact me at IslingtonChildminerN16 (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk

pol25 · 11/03/2006 09:45

I am in Romford, RM7 and would consider this...!
I am registered with all quals, plus five years nanny exp. Also have GNVQ level 3 in health and socail care, with a little special needs exp.

getbakainyourjimjams · 11/03/2006 10:13

I signed contracts, and just pay at the end of every session.

sylvm · 27/03/2006 10:04

This is all very interesting - I came on this board wondering whether it would give me any info on whether child minders do ad hoc care. My DD is above the age limit for registered care (9) but she does have special needs and is quite immature in some ways. I was thinking that I could really do with some time off in particular over the summer. I am not sure if the SEN playscheme she has been to before will be running or not. Is this the sort of thing a child minder might do - a few hours here and there, p'raps a bit of time working on some of her weak areas (things like motor skills) - not formally?

sylvm · 27/03/2006 10:06

Sorry that didn't come out right - I meant the working on weak areas to be not formally ie. things like beads, pegs, ball games NOT the childcare. That of course would be a formal arrangement.

ayla99 · 27/03/2006 10:19

sylvm - many registered childminders are happy to care for over eights as well as the younger children. Anyone caring for just over eights can choose to register as an approved childminder with Surestart if they want. (this would enable the parent to claim childcare tax credits, if eligible).

Although many registered childminders do offer occasional/emergency care they must abide by the child ratios set by Ofsted and also by their insurance company so you cannot be sure a place will be available on the day & time you want unless you have a contract.

ayla99 · 27/03/2006 10:25

Meant to add that, as a Registered Childminder, I have often been asked to provide care for a variety of reasons, not just while parent is at work/meetings/training but also when parent has hospital appointments, hair/beauty appointments, lunch dates/shopping outings and also to help the child with speech & language development, potty training, social skills and to learn english as a second language (to name a few).

babydales · 27/03/2006 13:52

I too do AD HOC minding as well as regular minding. I am also registered for overnights, work weekend, term time and holidays and take children with a variety of special needs. I recently looked after a 5 year old who's mum was doing the ICP in the evening, a baby who's mum was a witness in a court case, a toddler who's mum was on a back to work training course, a toddler who's mum had a hospital appointment with her newborn, an 8year old with severe needs who's mum had to finish a dissertation, so I am practically available for most things. Reading this back I think I must be ever so slightly MAD...

HappyMumof2 · 27/03/2006 14:09

how do you find people needing such varied hours babydales? I'm really interested in doing more ad hoc care until I start something more permanent (want the summer off!) but only seem to be contacted by people needing long hours a few days a week!

ThePrisoner · 27/03/2006 19:05

I will do ad hoc care if I have the space, and people I meet at the usual groups we attend places know this, which is where I get this type of work from. If I have a mindee away on holiday, I also tell people - and have often filled odd hours/days this way. I would also contact Social Services and let them know that you are available for this type of work.

sylvm - I've minded several children with a range of special needs. Although over 8s are not within our registered numbers as such, most minders are limited by their public liability insurance to caring for a maximum of 10 children, so there is still a limit (if that makes sense).

I have minded an older lad with Down's Syndrome since he was a baby and, now that he is over 8, he comes occasionally during the school holidays. He is hard work, but I love having him, but we do have to pick hours/days to suit (depending on ages/abilities of other mindees and what we plan to do that day).

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