Does this childcare exist?!

[Wigeon]

DH and I currently share a lot of the childcare of our DDs (Reception and Y3 aged). We've been thinking about future options as they grow up, and we potentially increase our working hours, and wondering if this ideal form of childcare even exists:

Someone who picks up your DC from school, but only 3 days a week, walks to your home, looks after them and sometimes cooks them dinner, but is also flexible enough to take them to, or collect them from, after school activities (eg singing club), play dates at other children's houses and birthday parties in the local area (sometimes walking distance, sometimes driving). Parent returns home between 5pm and 6pm and person can leave.

I guess this is a nanny, because it's in your home, but presumably most nannies want whole days? And au pairs live in your house, right? We don't have any room for an au pair (and would only need a bit of after school help).

The main issue, which means a childminder or after school club isn't ideal, is that I'd be sad if the DDs missed out on after school activities, which they can currently do because DH or I always collect them from school. I know that this is the reality for many DC, and the world doesn't fall in and they have perfectly fine lives, but I've been mulling over the options.

Any thoughts?

Op we had this arrangement with a student when my dcs were little.
We put a add in the local college and loads of childcare students applied and they all had crb checks. We paid £7 a hour at the Time and she was a lovely girl, was always up for a bit of baby sitting and helping out in the holidays, was sorry to see her go! She is now a teacher

Sounds like you need an after school nanny

Maybe a nwoc if you are happy with that

What happens in holidays or do you only need term care

And needs to make persons while so I would suggest £12 gross for 3hrs of if you would like a bit of extra help with washing etc get them to come in an early early and put washing on and cook tea and for 4hrs

whois - I meant, per head

We had someone who did just this - advertise what you want and you will probably find it will suit somebody.

This is encouraging!

Blondes - what's a nwoc? (Google isn't helping)

Nanny with own child

Thanks elf

Op I think you will find someone :)

I was one of these in the 1990s (age 18) Just put an ad in the local newsagent (made sure I included the name of my private school so they knew I was a nice middle class girl). Nobody ever considered DBS checks then! I suppose I could have been anybody...

More helpfully could you put a few flyers through local doors as somebody may have an older teenager wanting a bit of extra cash.

Try asking at childcare courses? If you have a further education provider nearby many of hem are already DBS checked and would be great and ready for any behaviour challenges.

Hi op, so this is how I got into nannying. I did this exact arrangement as a student. But when I say student. .. I mean university student. It was fab because I used to do around 3 afternoons a week and I came with a DBS check due to the nature of my course. About a year in they paid for me to become ofsted registered because it was more financially viable for them. I slowly increased my hours and am now a full time nanny but with a new family as I moved cities. One thing I will say though, if you want someone from say 3 til 5/6 please just pay for 3 hours. I think if you're fair them the nanny is happier etc... I'm regards to pay, I was paid £8 per hour initially, which was fab as a student who just needed a little extra money. I'm not on a fair bit more but that's because I'm into my 4th year nannying and am much older now!

Thanks again for replies! This is good that some people might actively like this kind of childcare. We do have a college which does BTECs and higher education diploma things, and I've had a look and they do do childcare qualifications, so someone from there could be really good and they might like the experience.

Don't rule out after school clubs without asking if they will meet your requirements. The one I work for does regular pick-ups from 6 local schools but we also go back to collect again later from various clubs and are able to forward children onwards to Brownies/Beavers etc. later in the evening. Not sure we have ever been asked to take a child to a birthday party, but before Christmas we did take several back to school for the carol concert.

Our fees are £8 per session (£7 for siblings) which includes a cooked tea. Also we try to make the clubs as 'home like' as possible for the children e.g. they get to choose which activities they want (or don't want) to do and have plenty of children who just want to chill and 'zone out' or chat with their friends in the sofa area after a hard day at school.

My mum used to do this for one of my sisters friends. Kind of like a borrowed granny.