few questions about nanny bringing her child to work? SE London

[motherpeculiar]

we are interviewing lovely sounding Aus nanny on Tuesday to mind our two DDS, aged 18mths and 4.2y. She'll be bringing her 3yo DS for full days until January, then until 1.30pm when he will be dropped at nursery.
My DD1 is at nursery 9-11.30 until January. Then 9 until 3.30 after that.
just wondering what the going rate is for nannies who bring their own kids along?
also, if we like her we'd want to keep her on long term, but would love not to have to pay so much once DD1 is at school for longer days (have been dreaming of this!) so do you think it would be mad to suggest we try to get another child along for a nanny share situation from January?
anything else particular to this situation you experienced people can think of that I might have overlooked?
thanks
(have been left in lurch by latest nanny giving just over a week's notice and fairly desperate)

anyone?

I know that nannies who bring thier own children along get pays a little bit less, where abouts do you live and what hours is she working?
I think that once you DS goes to school and her little one is only coming for half a day that it is perfectly reasonable to do a nanny share with another child. As a nanny myself I would be happy with this situation! Hope that helps.x

Hiya MP. I can't believe I'm going to say this because it is so out of character for me. But I think you are possibly planning too far ahead. If I were you, I would offer her the job. I would expect a reduced rate based on a nanny share (the share being her child). I would expect say a 25% reduction on fees. I would make the probationary period through January. And only after she has settled in and you see how your kids get along with hers, then I would look at introducing another child to the equation. I would put in a two week notice period (for both her and you) for the probationary period. And, I would put something into the contract that mentions a nanny share might be discussed during the course of employment but will only be undertaken if mutually acceptable to nanny and employer.

My nanny brings her child to work with her (he has just turned 1) - we pay her about 75-80% of the going rate. We have also nanny-shared her (since I work part-time and she wanted a full-time job) - we shared with a family with 1 other child, I have 2 (1 in school, 1 at home). It worked fine (we tried to keep the number of children within the 'ofsted' numbers for a childminder).
The share only ended as the other family decided that a nanny was not for them (needed 365 day cover, no nanny holidays/sick leave).
I agree with Uwila though, give it a little while and see how it works. My children love their nanny's little boy but they have known him since he was a bump and he is virtually part of the family - not so sure how happy they would be if he was nearer their age...but on bright side at least they will all be able to play together at much the same thing.

Ours had been with us for about 5 years when she had her own baby so we could hardly give her a pay cut. I must say it got harder, then her number 2 (and we had 2 lots of her maternity leave to cover) but to have the same person (live out) for 10 years was good continuity for our children which mattered most. She left when she was pregnant with baby no.3 in 4 years. By then our older children were feeling they were at the edges whilst she was seeing to the needs of two under 3s in our house - not quite ideal but if you was stability and permanence I think a slightly older married person who's having her own babies is more likely to stay and be reliable than someone younger who doesn't have children.

thanks, I know, January seems like aeons away. I think I am just a bit sensitive to the lack of continuity thing with current nanny leaving after just two months (no big falling out, she just got unrefusable job offer in her home country, or so she tells us) - this will be the 4th nanny in just over a year....

but you are right I am sure

we are in London and she will be doing 3 full days. She mentioned £8.50 an hour on the phone which seems high to me (assuming net) but she said she was prepared to take a salary cut for the right position (must have been my VERY sharp intake of breath)

(Hi Uwila, how are you?)

8.50 an hour and bringing her son along seems very expensive to me! I am west London and most nannies around here are 8 per hour net, without bringing more children along.
(I guess part-time jobs may be more expensive)

I know - I thought very high too. she does have about 10 years experience and sounds VERY good on the phone, actually asked about the children's routines and had positive, proactive suggestions to make about an issue I just happened to mention about DD2's nap. All in the first phone call. I was impressed.

When we spoke subsequently and I said £8.50ph was towards the top end of what we could pay, even including tax (we ain't rich!) she suggested we look at our budget and come up with a gross figure we can afford and she'll consider it if the fit seems right, so there is room for negotiation there I hope.

She is currently only getting 3 afternoons work a week (from family she has been with for 6 years, kids have moved into school now) so is interested in increasing this, but obviously it must be tricky finding a job where she can bring her son.

(have to tell you about a swiss girl's CV I received tonight, with salary expactations of £9 ph net and all of 12 months au pair experience, in 2002. nothing since. £9, wtf?)

have now got three other candidates lined up for interview tomorrow too, before DH goes away to a conference and leaves me in the lurch with no nanny for next week.

Wish me luck...

Good Luck! (wow at Swiss girl's requirements too)
This isn't helping my worrying you know, in 6 months or so we are moving house to a new area and will have to find a new nanny. (Although if yours are anything to go by I won't be able to afford childcare)

What about this one on gumtree ?

I can't remember where you live, so not sure if this one is suitable. But, with two years experience and ok language skills, I wouldn't expect to pay the higher end.

thanks Uwila, I've emailed her. I am in SE London, Herne Hill.

So, if you don't mind me asking, what would you consider offering someone with that level of experience? I am happy to take on someone looking to improve English, that's what we've always done in the past. As long as they are not afraid to check things they don't understand initially I find it fine.

Try not to worry about it too much now Bluebear, plenty of time for that when the time comes!

(leaving nanny has just called in sick today so am having to take day off work, when I was hoping to save my hols to use next week when she has actually left in case we haven't found someone)

Oh, near Clapham. There must be a zillion nurseries with disgruntled workers who would rather come be your nanny-- should yoube inclined to pinch one. Just offer more than the nursery pays them. Shouldn't be difficult.

Afraid I'm not ver well suited to name a price as you are looking at live out wages. I bribe them with room and board so I don't have to pay live-out rates. (and so they don't call in sick when they aren't really)

I am an experienced British nanny who is happy to work for £7 per hour. I live in Croydon just down the road

Email me on [email protected] for more info

Julie

Just curious Jules, what is that in gross? (assuming your worked full time)

Hi Jules1972

As I said in my email message to your response to my ad on Nannyjob.co.uk I arranged an interview with you when I was last looking for a nanny in the summer. Unfortunately I waited an hour at the appointed time but you never showed up, nor called to explain why, and never returned my calls or emails subsequently, which I found surprising. So I don't think I am interested this time around. Thanks but no thanks.

YEOUCH!

Don't mess with MP!

if it's any help as a piece of info we pay £7 per hour net to an experienced NNEB qualified nanny who brings her 2 1/2 year old son to work. She works 1pm -7pm 5 days a week plus up to 10 hours a week between 8am and 1pm on days agreed between us. we pay for the higher of 40 hours or hours actually worked. this isn't as complicated as it sounds and gives us what we need in terms of flexibility for school holidays, illness etc but also allows her to take her son to toddler groups etc without me feeling that it's on "my" time.

This in SE London and we found her through Tinies. The agency fee was worth paying given the quality of candidates we got from gumtree etc. After a few years of au pairs it is really nice to have a professional nanny again - who knows what to do and enjoys doing it. Finding one with her own child has made it a financially realistic option and, although it's still relatively early days, so far it's working well.

thanks Mrs Wobble, that is helpful

we have meet the nanny now and need to discuss it more. DH is concerned about adding another child into the mix (our house being fairly chaotic at the best of times) and also a bit worried that DD1 will play with the little boy to the exclusion of her little sister. This does concern me a bit too. But we'll talk some more.

I do know EXACTLY what you mean about the difference between the "gumtree girls" (for want of a better phrase) and a nanny who is in it as a profession, with tonnes of great experience and her own distinct philosophy. (Whether or not we are ready for a "distinct philosophy" remains to be seen) We did see some other nice girls today too though...

Will post later asking for your thoughts if we can't decide

ps Uwila, she caught me on a BAD day!

met, we have met...

Oh no, MP. I'd say it was a good day. Some things just need to be said to protect the innocent. Now we all know who not to interview in the future. You've done us all a favour.

As for you ,Jules, well it's a pity we have no waving finger emoticon.

We're having our nanny back after maternity leave with her own child who will be almost 4 months old. It coincides with my dd going to school (4.5) and soon my ds (2)will also be at preschool so I'm not too worried about there being too much for one nanny to do. We had another nanny to cover the maternity leave, and soon discovered that a nanny with her own child we can trust to keep our children safe, happy and well behaved is worth way more than one who comes alone and can't deliver those things. We had originally said no to our nanny coming back with her own child, but changed our mind. Will let you know how it all works out. We are paying her the same (£7 net per hour).

thanks Onion0, hope that works out for you. Out of interest, do you know what £7 net works out at gross per hour?

(btw I think we have decided not to go for the nanny with her own child, altho she was fab and very nice, we just worried about what a new child close to one of our daughters age might do to the dynamic between our two, although we may yet change our minds...)

£7 net per hour for a 50 hour week becomes £467.15 gross per week (£24,291 gross salary), and (after adding employers NI) gives a total weekly cost of £514.53.
The numbers change if you need less than 50 hour week because of the tax/NI allowances.

(there is a table on nannypaye.co.uk under 'employer's information' which I found useful when trying to calculate salary for my nanny.

Meant to say that for a 50 hour week that comes to £9.34gross per hour, and £10.29 total cost per hour. (I think)

thanks Bluebear, that's very helpful