Any advice?

[francesca154]

Hi!

Forgive my naivety on this subject. I'm starting a new job, full time (eek) as a single mum and need help on 2 evenings per week to pick up my 3 year old from nursery as I wont get back in time from work.

Is it reasonable to ask for them to pick my son up to be brought back to my home (nursery 15min walk away) and give the nanny a key to my apartment?

Is £20 per week pretty reasonable? (3-4 hours per week), cash in hand. Or should I be drawing up a formal contract?

God knows how I'll cope during school holidays!........

Most people would use a child-minder to be honest and then book for holiday cover. As they are ofsted registered you can use vouchers and if applicable claim tax credits. You then pick up from the CM's house.

I would double your budget to be closer to the mark tbh.

Yes for the key however you will find it hard to get some one for that money
Could always ask if some one from nusery will do it.

I would ask nursery staff

20 for 3/4hrs work is low. Assume you need 6-8 roughly?

Minimum wage is 6.50 for over 21's so four hours at that would be £26. But I don't know anyone who does that sort of childcare at minimum wage. Remember that if it's only an hour or two at a time you will need to pay more per hour because, unless you employ your next door neighbour, they have relatively more travel time per hour of working.

If you say where you are you might get more answers. Here in NW london I would expect to pay £10 per hour for an adult and at least £7-8 for a teenager.