Would like a position as an after school nanny. Am I too old?

[ladydayblues]

I am 53 yrs. Have 4 four grown up children, last just off to Uni. Although I havent had a real job for 16 years, I am a graduate with an enhanced CRB and clean driving licence, can cook, clean and have a first aid qualification. I have supervised playdates, supervised music practice, supervised homework etc. What else do I need to be considered for this position as I am not getting any replies to my applications. I wonder if I am too old. Any suggestions would be really welcomed.

I found my afterschool nanny through childcare.co.uk. They were few and far between and I wouldn't have been put off by your age in the slighest.

Find a babysitter charge an extortionate fee for parents to contact a potential childcarer (£25 per month!) and IME their customer service is crappola.

In my bit of SE London I would expect you to be snapped up. I would love you if I had the right age children.

Would you do mornings too? There someone on here the other day despairing of ever finding the right childcare to do a return to nursing course, and someone like you was exactly what was discussed as ideal. I would expect that there are more out there like her.

Have you thought about popping along to some local playgroups and asking where they/their friends find childcare? Slightly the wrong age group, but they would have local knowledge. If you can borrow a child to take along, so much the better.

£25 was well worth me finding someone whereas the money I paid to childcare.co.uk was a total waste.

It really isn't a lot if you find someone within a month IMO :)

That's true Dowagers. It was when the bastards company wouldn't cancel the account despite requesting twice and charged me £75 for absolutely nothing that I felt a bit aggrieved. I just post on the local group for netmums or similar now.

Don't get downhearted! Loads of people (as you can see from the responses here) would consider your age and life experience a huge asset - we employed a part time nanny a few years ago who was about your age and she was absolutely wonderful. I think the idea of putting cards up locally might be a good one - ask in your local school if there's any way of advertising there. They may have a newsletter that goes out to parents....

I wouldn't necessarily read anything into your lack of luck with applications so far - when we advertised on gumtree we had millions of responses and couldn't interview everybody, even though many of them were excellent on paper. If anything comes up that is very local to you, maybe you could stress that your proximity would be a real asset - you could be available to be called on during the school day if a child became ill or whatever.

Ouch Celine! I did read some comments like that and was a bit worried when I set up my account but they cancelled it immediately

Yup. Never again. Trying to get the money back through charge back on my credit card.

In Somerset / Bristol there's an agency who specifically advertise for older mums who've had their own kids and offer a 'second mum' type help to families ie. childcare / cooking / housework. I assume there must be a demand for it. I'm sure you'll be snapped up in no time.

Im 53 and work as a full time (well term time) nanny so not too old.

All my work has come through Childcare.co.uk.

Some schools have notice boards. Mine does. Often after school childminders put up a notice on the board in the parent's room near the office where the list property cupboard is and where you wait to see the HT if you are called in to see him.

If you were near me, I'd snap you up in a second!

Absolutely not too old but how about doing the OCN common core skills course so you could be registered with OFSTED if necessary? That would be a big plus point for many parents who might see your profile and think 'drat, perfect but can't use my vouchers'.

Also nannyjob.co.uk and the local boards on netmums (sorry)

If I could ever afford a nanny I would love one who was your age instead of a younger girl. More experience probably more reliable and sensible. I would think it an asset!

You go for it! My au pair recently left (thank god) and I now have a 61 year old lady, also with grown up children, helping out picking up my teenagers from school when I am at work, cooking tea and walking our dogs. It is sooo much better having a mature adult in the house than an overgrown teen. I expect you will be in great demand

agree not too old and has vast experience esp with special needs, and can cook and clean

but take out your ages of children

why do you want just after school work - and not say 2/3day job

but in my area you would be snapped up - there are loads of after school nanny jobs and tbh people my age dont want them as doesnt pay enough money and want younger children during the day as this is the career i trained for 2 years

have you tried placing an ad on netmums/nanny job

I'm amazed too....good, reliable after school nannies are like gold dust around here. If you live anywhere near beaconsfield/penn, please do PM me as there's at least 2 mums at school looking for someone.

Are you able to work longer hours during school holidays? If so, I would definitely mention that. An after-school nanny would be ideal for us except for the fact that we woudl need someone for longer hours for part of the schools holidays (not the whole time becuase we could cover 6 weeks through the year with annual leave, and we could use a club or two for some of the summer, but would want kids to have some down time at home, plus they are at private school with longer hols). Lots of my friends are in the same position. If you would be able to accomodate full time for at least some school holiday time, you should definitely mention this - this is the holy grail.

Blondeshavemorefun because I am not ready yet to go back into a full day environment and thought this would be a good start. I am not too good in the mornings remembering the sheer drama of getting kids ready for school, breakfast, mad dash to get to work in time for the first meeting, realising that someone vomited on your presentation and/or you still have your house slippers on!

I love the end of day meeting at the gate, hearing about their day at school, going home slowly through the park, together making some upsidedown cake, listening to dreadful violin practice until one day it finally becomes bearable or quietly reading together before OH comes home for tea.

Have booked in for the OCN Common Skills course.

violin practice NEVER becomes bearable

and yes understand the early am's only too well!! :)

You would definitely be suitable for big-ish families.

Plus points:

• Plenty experience
• Confidence and able to be firm
• Organisation skills and multi-tasking
• Confident in kitchen
• Initiative

I'm sure there are many more...

Some employers even think about pregnancy and maternity leave. I'm not saying i agree but...

The only thing that might concern some people could be the relationship with the parents regarding asking you to do something or wanting smth to be done in different way. So i would use words such as 'easy going', 'flexible', 'adaptable'.

have been following this with interest - I'd hire you and wondered how many offers you'd had already!

As usual I agree with something laquitar raised: the only thing I would want to probe in interview is whether you'd be truly happy if we did things in a different way to what you would have done with your children in a similar circumstance, if you see what I mean.

This is based on prior experience of our first nanny though and not a general sort of age thing. And it can happen, of course, with a childcarer of any age not just someone who happens to be older than the parents (if you are).

Where are you? I'm fairly desperate (weak grin).

I desperately need one - are you in SW London?

Very hard to find a reliable after school nanny who can speak english, drive, cook etc. I would definitely interview you.

I'd bite your hand off!

It would have to be something really major for me to be unhappy about in terms of how parents wanted me to deal with their children, but I would hope we could discuss it frankly. Each of my four are so completely different that I too had to learn and adjust as I raised them. Other than the obligatory brushing of teeth and washing hands type of thing, i hope I am fairly flexible. DD1 was a dream child, DD2 - the tasmanian devil - you know tantrums in the supermarket kinda thing, DS - well ADHD, DD3 -10 weeks premature so in and out of GOSH for five years. One child didnt eat (much) until they reached puberty - then ate me out of house and home! I too worked at a very senior level when they were young so understand that kinda juggling of time. However I have found at the summer camps the younger staff constantly referring to me for advice so feel I can offer my experience positively. I am in Camden Town.