Can I use a childminder for wrap around care?

[ziggiestardust]

DH works shifts, and I work 9-5.

50% of the time, DH will be able to do pick up and drop off. The other 50%, because the nursery is 8-4:30 (and it's really good so am reluctant to choose another), would it be possible to drop DS at a childminder to be dropped off at nursery, and for the CM to pick him up and keep him until 6pm?

It's just an extension of the care, so 2.5 hours a day, possibly less, 50% of the time.

Is this acceptable? Can you do this?

doingitformyself that's interesting, thank you. I hadn't realised there were separate registers

If its under 2 hours a day then you don't need an OFSTED registered CM, so technically a student or retired person could do it, but if its 2.5 then legally the person has to be OFSTED registered.

But even so, would you really be comfortable regularly leaving your 2 year old with someone who isn't accountable, with no training and no recent experience of providing childcare for pre-schoolers?

I know he'll get the education aspect of care from nursery, but even so, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable leaving a young child with someone who hadn't done the basics such as a paediatric first aid course and an introductory course about child development etc.

Yes, au pair is a good idea. I had one once for my 5 y/o.

Again though, it might be worth considering getting her on a basic childcare course if she's new to it & paying for a first aid course to put your mind at rest (especially if she's very young).

My AP was never really alone with my son as I worked form an office in the grounds of our house, so was always on hand, but if she'd been in sole charge of him I'd have liked her to be a bit more experienced.

artandco this was what I was thinking. It would be much less than 20 hours a week. If they could fill in if DS was poorly that'd be great, but again; if DH is off (50% chance) then she need not bother.

I wonder if she'd be able to provide perhaps 1 Saturday a month at extra cost? Or babysitting in the evening? He sleeps like a log, and never gets up so it's really just a matter of having someone there!

doing the agency I've looked at this morning seems to suggest they can match you with more experienced au pairs, and they've all done first aid courses as a requirement to be listed with them.

But I'll look into this further and see whether this is actually the case!

That sounds ideal then, and would give you more flexibility and someone to tidy your house and cook you dinner sometimes too!

doing can you recommend any agencies?

The trouble is I could send him to a nursery with longer hours, but I don't want to. The nursery I've picked out is really outdoorsy and just lovely, so I don't really want to compromise on that because I think it'll do wonders for his confidence.

This was several years ago so I can't actually remember the agency we used, but I'm sure there are lots of people on here with more recent experience, who can point you in the right direction.

It will be nice for your DS to have a mix of nursery and one to one time, rather than all day at nursery.