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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Can my cleaner be my nanny?

41 replies

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 07:08

Has anyone done this?

She's a lovely, kind motherly woman whom we've known for over 7 years. Loves my children so much so I was thinking of offering her a job to pick up my dc from nursery and look after the baby a couple of times a week so I can work.

However, how much would I pay her? I don't have a clue about nannys! I pay her £10 ph to clean.

Also, her English is very poor. I was thinking to pay for her to do an English course over the summer to help?

Any advice would be appreciated

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Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 07:09

Also the kids love her and she's babysat before.

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Kwirrell · 30/05/2016 07:12

I don't think I would employ someone with poor English. I would worry about how she would communicate in an emergency.

Out2pasture · 30/05/2016 07:13

my dd as hired her cleaner for all the same reason's you mentioned. not sure on the rate of pay however.
there is something to be said for knowing the person you hire.

Just5minswithDacre · 30/05/2016 07:18

It sounds like a great plan. How many prospective child caters already know and (most importantly) love your DC?

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 07:33

Yes that is a strong plus for me, she adores them as she hardly sees her grandchildren abroad. She comes early to cleaning jobs just for cuddles.

The English bit is what's holding me back as it's very poor. I feel awful she's been here for years and hasn't picked much up hence why I thought I could help her with it.

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Frazzled2207 · 30/05/2016 07:36

If she's been here for years and her English is still poor I think she won't be getting much better or the motivation to improve isn't there. Which would make it a showstopper for me.

wallywobbles · 30/05/2016 07:40

I employed someone English to child mind my kids here in France so they'd have to speak English. So the language thing is only an issue if you are planning to be uncontactable.

Ask her if she'd like to do a language course? And ask her what pay she'd want. Would the course be coming out of her pay packet?

WellErrr · 30/05/2016 07:44

What language does she speak?

Tbh as long as she could call you or 999 it wouldn't bother me, my children speak 2 languages, it wouldn't do them any harm to pick up a new one.

Cindy34 · 30/05/2016 08:16

As a cleaner they are probably self employed. As your nanny they probably would not be. So you need to be aware of that and all that it involves and she needs to be aware of that as it is a different relationship - you can tell her what to do and insist she comes at certain times.

Language would be a concern but I feel you need to look at everything, being confident in her ability to know what to do if something was to happen, a child choke on food for example.

Does she want to do it? Would you pay her the same as cleaning, if not she may prefer to clean for someone as she would earn more.

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 09:55

I don't even know if she would do it yet but thought I would get some advice before asking and her maybe saying yes if it's not a good idea.

I don't think she's learnt much English because she only hangs around with her husband so they both speak Bulgarian and move in those circles, living in an area where there are lots of people from Bulgaria.

I'm very confident in her ability, she's very maternal and intelligent. She's in her 50s and has 3 grown up children and grNdchildren.

I would pay for the English course as she would need to improve a bit to communicate with my older dc.

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Footle · 30/05/2016 10:08

Of course employ someone who's already such a part of your family. Yes help her learn English - and enjoy the smattering of Bulgarian the baby will pick up !

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 12:14

My brother still knows some Arabic from his Somali nanny!

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Yerazig · 30/05/2016 12:21

Do you think she would be confident in taking your child to socialise for play dates/classes etc. I was speaking to a parent a few weeks back who did the same thing as you. But realised yes she is good with housework but never took the child out ever. So realised she needs a proper nanny.

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 12:55

He'll be in nursery for half the day so was hoping someone could bring him home and chill out with him and baby here. Go play doh, baking, colouring etc as he'll do lots of active stuff at nursery, plus we have a big garden with slide and stuff

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Fairuza · 30/05/2016 13:01

Would she be able to call 999 and explain the problem if necessary? Or speak to a doctor?

VodkaValiumLattePlease · 30/05/2016 13:05

Well yes, but she'd be an employee so that means paid holiday and doing her payroll

donkir · 30/05/2016 13:31

As a nanny you would have to employ her and offer a pension scheme.
It sounds like she's be more of an au pair and I think I'm correct in thinking au pairs aren't allowed to look after under 2s

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 13:37

Are they not? Ok I'll have to do some research. I guess I'm looking for a nanny/home help. I'm completely new to all this childcare stuff.

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Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 13:38

I don't think she could report an emergency at the moment, no. Hence why I would definitely suggest an English course first.

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AndNowItsSeven · 30/05/2016 13:40

Would be better if she was a mothers help.

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 13:46

Maybe she could start as a mothers help from September and move onto nannying in feb/March 17? Do an English course during. How does that sound

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Zhabr · 30/05/2016 13:48

7 years in the country and still cannot communicate properly? Sounds like a slow or reluctant learner to me. Does she pay tax?

Original poster

CopperPot · 30/05/2016 13:50

I have no idea about her finances except she does have a bank account which she gets paid into.

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QuimReaper · 30/05/2016 14:04

I'm not qualified to advise, but if you can make it work, it sounds like a fantastic solution.

rainytea · 30/05/2016 14:07

Plenty of Brits live abroad, mix only with other Brits and after more than 7 years don't speak the language of the country they're living in (i.e. Spain, but not only). Let's not make this about "foreigners"!

How about mother's help at same rate as cleaning until she gets to a certain level in English (B1 or B2 of European level) and then pay goes up.

Also a first aid course for kids. But that'll have to be in English...

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