Please help - need afterschool care for some older kids and am clueless!

[fiftieshousewife]

Hello

I'm trying to sort post-school childcare for two older kids: one top end of primary, the other bottom end of secondary. I'm a single parent and need someone to be at our house from drop-off time (school runs are sorted) and stay there until I get back from work at 7-8pmish - so post-school snack, bit of homework supervision (but nothing major, they're both fairly sensible and self-reliant), dinner making, and being a responsible adult on the premises, basically.

What's the word for this? It's not a childminder (because it would be in my home), it's not a nanny or au pair because it's only part time (starting one day a week and possibly rising to three) and it's not live-in!

I'd be quite happy with an older teen or student - maybe a childcare student? - so long as they were sensible and had a driving license in case of emergencies - but obviously I want someone I can trust.

Any pointers for how I could find someone like this? I'm in SW London suburbs.

Thanks v much - you lot seem to know your onions so seemed like a good place to start. Am I asking for moon on a stick?

After-school nanny.
You may find it suits a student but will depend on the start time fitting with their lecture times.

You need a stand-in grandparent type person.
Not sure how you'd find them tbh, perhaps put an ad on gumtree or childcare.co.uk for your requirements?

Thank you both

, it's not a nanny or au pair because it's only part time (starting one day a week and possibly rising to three) and it's not live-in!

There is no mininmum hours to classify a nanny.
I work 12 hours a week for my family. You would still be an employer and would need to pay minimum wage including any tax or NI due. Probably on the hours you quote there would be no tax or NI if Nanny's only job. Students lower rate minimum wage and might not have other work.
Important to agree a GROSS wage not NET.
The nanny would also be entitled to holiday pay 5.6 days per year.

I appreciate a lot of babysitters are paid cash in hand but technically if you want the same person every week and they can't turn the work down ie you set specific times and dates you are employing them , they can't be self employed.

However there are probably students or retired people who would love your job. So I'm sure you could find someone. I would check they had a DBS check and paediatric first aid. My local council will do DBS checks for a fee @£70 and there are many organisations offering First aid. Cost @£80-£100.
So maybe you could offer to pay all or part of this for a candidate. I would stipulate they had to repay if they left before x date.

Why don't you try Childcare Uk or even better does your school or community have a Facebook page?

Best wishes with your search.

Thanks very much Florence - told you I was clueless!