Wondering if any of you can offer me some advice on nannies/childminder options when going back to work full time. Have had ten years managing to keep part-time freelance on a good salary but my career is now stuck. It's clear I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a full time post to then get on and out the other side to a better and higher quality freelance career. All 3 DCs will be at school from this September. The thought of what to do about childcare feels scary as I've had DP at home on my working half of the week but will now need to get cover for 3 days school run plus after school care. There is a good after school club at the school but it doesn't open early enough for me, and I think DS3 will be too tired when he starts reception to cope with any more. We've not long moved away from my parents so that back up is now also gone. Presumably childminders don't start before 7.30 which is when I would need them from and I think it would be less stressful to try and get a part-time nanny who might hold the fort at home rather than me trying to run about any more than I will already be. Any ideas of what the cost would be for a nanny 3 days a week in Gloucestershire? Does that sound like 'impossible to find' and do 'mother's helps that just do the school run and have the day to themselves' not really exist? I'm guessing that with a job that I can't take odd days off very easily (school holiday restricted) that a childminder who has her own kids who might also get ill themselves, or who can't have mine when mine are ill is a more problematic choice. (Somehow I think when they are younger and in nursery with longer hours it might have been more straightforward!) Any suggestions from any of you that have done any of the above would be really useful. I don't quite know where to start, and whether to get the job first and then the childcare or the other way round which would feel safer!