*child care to fit in with monthly changing shift work. What do i need to consider?*

[Wriggler]

hello, fellow members
new member, joined today to ask you all something that is troubling me and my husband.
I have recently changed a work pattern of 9-5 mon to fri,when employed as a manager for work a clinician. My new pattern of work is based on shift work and rotas are planned a month in advance.
The shifts are monday to sunday:
8am-4pm
9am-5pm
10am-6pm
1pm-9pm
4pm-12am
I am required to work atleast work one or two weekends a month, to work some 4-12 shifts.
I am able to fix 3 shifts in the week, when i return to work.
I have worked out a plan that could work, but it would mean looking at more than one child care solution, to assist me to return to work in a years time.I would like to know what would be a good way to get around this.
I live in Knutsford and work 15miles away in Macclesfield. The shifts i have worked out are as follows
Monday shift not fixed/day off
Tuesday shift fixed as
Wednesday shift fixed as
Thursday shift fixed as
Friday Shift fixed as not fixed/day off
Saturday shift fixed as occassional/4-12
Sunday shift fixed as occassional/4-12

The average cost of nursery care day rate is 42.00 for my area..
Are my options fix nursey care for fixed days and child minder for changeable days?
please help
Wriggler

As a childminder I would consider taking someone on working shifts but would have to up my hourly rate to cater for the shift patterns and unsocialble hrs. Mayb some childminders near you could cater for this or a nanny?

As a childminder I would consider taking someone on working shifts but would have to up my hourly rate to cater for the shift patterns and unsocialble hrs. Mayb some childminders near you could cater for this or a nanny?

Both DH and I currently work shifts and the only way we have been able to manage is to have an Au Pair so if you have a spare room it may be worth considering.

Childminders have different ways of charging - some would charge the full rate for each day you want to reserve for your child. Some might agree a fixed weekly fee for a maximum number of hours care.

The arrangement I have used previously is that the contract shows a core/reserved time period eg 8 am - 6pm Mon-Fri and we agree how much notice I will get of the actual days/hours required every month. The payment due would be full fees for each booked hour (regardless of whether the child shows up on the day) & 1/2 fees for the remainder of the reserved time period (this charge is waived if I am closed or manage to book another child in their absence). Unsocial hours of before 8am & after 6pm are double fees. Cos it makes for a very long day when some parents want to start at 6 am & others want to collect at 8pm.