Help - finding it impossible to get care and I have to go back to work soon. Any ideas?

[meb2006]

Help please. Am I right to start panicking. I am in Brentwood/Shenfield Essex and returning to work in April. Despite being on the waiting lists for the nurseries that take under 2?s for quite some time my daughter is not going to have a place at nursery by the time I need to go back to work (bar one that I have visited which was so bad there is no way I would send her there). I have contacted all the childminders given to me on a list by the council and despite speaking to some fantastically helpful childminders (several of who sounded very good and with whom I would be more then happy to leave my daughter) currently there are no vacancies and there are unlikely to be any in the immediate future. Several said the position would probably change in September.
There is no flexibility as I have to go back to work ? am I panicking unnecessarily yet or not? Any other suggestions? I cant take her to a nursery near work as I have a long commute in rush hour and it is just not feasible. I don?t really want a nanny out of choice predominantly because we are currently living with friends and it is not our house. Any thoughts?

have you tried all the listed childminders or just the ones that the council list said had vacancies? Our council give out a list which says whether people have vacancies or not and after trying them all and finding none of them did, I went through all the others and did find someone.

Otherwise could your look for a nanny share in someone else's house? maybe someone with school age children who wants to keep the nanny on but is a bit reluctant to have her twiddling her thumbs in school hours? you could phone up local schools and ask if they have a notice board where you could put something up.

If you're in London try Simply Childcare - it's a listing magazine - both people who need care and people offering care put adverts in, as well as people wanting nanny shares. google them to get details.

Or could you possibly negotiate with work about changing your hours to ones that don't involve travelling at rush hour so you could explore nurseries near work?(would definitely be my last resort though - a lot of hassle)

Are you on any waiting lists with any of the childminders? If they're not keeping your tel number, call them again and ask them to keep your number and call you if their vacancies change. As a childminder, I've often told parents I don't have a space only to find an existing parent announces they've changed job/school/having another baby.

Can any of the people you've visited offer some of the time you need? Could you combine care with a childminder and a nursery or a couple of childminders? Would any relatives be able to help out part time until the whole place becomes free? Do you have any relatives or friends with a nanny who could help out short term until the whole place is available?

Far from ideal, one family I worked with sent her baby to 3 childminders each week until one could offer a place the whole week. Also I've provided care for families who have booked part of the week with a nursery & part with a childminder to get the benefits of both or to help make decision over which is better for them.

If you're not a single mum, can your partner take some time off to buy you some time?

Best of luck.

Have tried sharing care. Yes have left my details with everyone. Only one had one day available (Tuessdy) and that was it. I am due to call round re nurseries again next week but there are adamant that no place (not even part time!) - this is just a final chase (though of course I will remain on waiting lists). My mum can have daughter one day a week (on day off as she works) but that only gets 2 days. I will have a look at the magazine but I think I may have seen it before and it is more full of other people looking then people advertising (and out of choice (although I have n't got one) I would rather find someone on recommendation then someone that needs to advertise). I really did n't expect it to be quite so hard to get cover - I have been looking since July !!!

Am I right in thinking there is another site similar to sharign care - am I thinking of the nannysharers or is there another one? Thanks.

Emergency Childcare

Also, did you get your childminder list online or did you phone up for it? Apparently some childminders elect not to go on the website list, so I'm told you get a longer list by phoning.

Childcare Link

yes I phoned - I am going to call for update now though as some weeks ago that I first started working through this.

childworkds.co.uk lists one childminder in Brentwood. Don't know how often listings are updated - but may be worth an enquiry. details

find-a-childminder.co.uk - lists one childminder with a vacancy near RM12 6, little way from your location, but if you drive towards London for work, then may be worth a try. details

Not sure if those are of that much help, but could be worth a try. Good luck in your hunt.

Here is another one not sure if it's same from Nannynick:
findachildminder.co.uk/index.php?option=com_jobline&Itemid=26&task=view&id=8

Hi MEB2006

I LIVE IN SHENFIELD, AND AM ALSO DUE BACK TO WORK IN APRIL, AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH CHILDCARE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING, MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT SHARING??

EMMA

I am still looking - can you CAT me??

I'm not signed up for that - can you email me [email protected]

Emma

hi to both of u, my daughter a qualified n.n.e.b with 6 yrs exp is looking for a job. she used to work in brentwood. what sort of days...hours are you looking for and how old r your child/ren. thank you. i will pass details on to her ...