What can I do next?

[NickNacks]

I'm currently a childminder but starting to think about what I will do in the future. Youngest dc has about 4 years left until I will no longer need to do school runs and i think I will be ready to get my house back to being just our home. I do love childminding though....

So the choices..

Nursery work- No, I've done it before and couldn't go back. Terrible money.

Preschool- have recently been offered to interview for the local preschool but money and lack of hours make it difficult. Walking distance and knowing the staff well already are pluses though.

Nannying- maybe. Money looks comparable and lots would be similar to childminding, being out in the community and taking the day as we find it etc. I live in a well off small community so think but I would have to check that work would be easy to find. Can I go back to being an employee though?

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions? If you've faced the same predicament or already work as one of the above is value your input. Thanks.

If I had to start again I would sell on eBay. You know all about what parents want so you could sell child related goods.
It would fir around school and school holidays and you would be self employed. The most satisfaction comes from being your own boss.
You could become very well off and successful.
I would do some sort of business course to help.

I was a nanny for 17 years and re-trained as an SEN Teaching assistant once my ds reached school age, I absolutely love it great job satisfaction and hours/holidays work well (although the salary is not great).

I was a nanny for 8 years, then a childminder for 11. I went back to nannying when my youngest turned 14 and didn't need me around before and after school - he was often at friends or out playing sport.

I couldn't earn the money I do as a nanny doing anything else without a period of retraining - and obviously with that comes low or no income. I look for like minded families so that I have some autonomy over my day, though would obviously always work to the parents wishes, but if you're coming from the same page it makes the job a lot easier. I like being an employee and getting holiday pay and not having to keep books and do tax returns. I'm on the voluntary Ofsted register which is 98% less hassle than being a registered childminder! I love having my home back and not having to display certificates, store toys, stairgates, travel cots etc.

I love my job and like to stay with families long term. I love seeing the children grow up and learn all about the world around them. I see myself staying in this job until I retire

I think if you love childminding, then nannying is probably the best fit because it's very similar in many ways.

I think going back to being an employee would be great tbh! Sick pay, holiday pay, no hassle of tax returns etc.

And the biggest advantage must be the complete lack of paperwork and hassle from Ofsted. All the fun of childminding, with none of the stress.

If you find the right family then you should be able to plan your day/week as you do now, so no major difference between being employed/employee in that sense.

The only thing you would do as a nanny, but not a childminder are nursery duties, so things like changing beds, laundry, shopping etc. Although how much/what needs to done will differ between families, so just look for a family that have reasonable expectations.