What sort of childcare do I need ??

[scatterbrain]

Hello,

I think I am going to have to get myself some childcare as I am not getting enough hours in at work.

I think what I will need is someone to pick my dd (6.5) up from school maybe 3 or 4 days a week and take her home, give her tea and look after her until me or dh gets in - by 6pm.

I had a childminder initially - but she only worked until 5.30 and also my dd ended up in her car for a large part of the time she was with her as the childminder delivered her grandchildren home after collecting my dd from school. She was the only childminder who collects from my dd's school unfortunately.

At the moment I am leaving early every day and I don't think it is sustainable.

So what do I need ? A mothers help ?

Obviously I don't want to pay for a nanny or au pair just for those few hours - so what should I be looking for ?

Thank you so much for your help !

You are going to need either a nanny or a very experienced au pair

What part of the country are you in?

Hampshire/Berkshire borders

Really - why very experienced ?

A lot of au pairs dont havemuch hildcar experience. You wouldnt need someone with qualifications - but they do need to know what they are doing!

Can't you find another childminder who works till 6? What about an after school club?

No there is only one childminder who will collect from dd's school.

She does do after school clubs until 5pm on 3 days, till 4pm on another day and needs picking up at 3.30 and taking to an external club one day - but I intend to carry on with that one.

So really I just need her collecting and looking after for 1 hour a day - 4 days a week ! Not much to ask really !

My problem is that I have a 1 hour commute - so even to get home at 6pm I have to leave at 5pm which still looks very early !

Doesn't sound like it's going to be possible then ?

Try other mothers in DD's class, maybe? I know it is not as easy to manage as paid childcare, but they might be prepared to come up with some reciprocal arrangement like you having their DCs for a couple of days in the holiday, or you doing the same for them one day a week?

..especially if you can find one with a DC at the same external club as your DD on the day you do collect at 3:30pm?!

Speak to social services. There might be a homecarer in the area that could help. Perhaps there is a nanny looking for a couple of hours work, you could try putting an ad in the local shops or a nanny agency?

That would be good exbury - but unfortunately I am just extricating myself from a nasty "clique" experience at school and the only two people I would trust are already horribly busy - so I would not ask them.

I would really prefer to employ someone - I hate being beholden and "owing people favours" etc !

I was thinking of putting something on gumtree - what do you think ?

Even someone like a an older lady - sort of surrogate granny ?

I'd speak to social services first, they will know whats in the local area.

We have a nanny through an agency 3-6pm three days a week and she has other families (one every day 9-2 and one 3-6 on the other afternoons). Works well for us - she collects ds1 from school, walks him home, helps with homework, takes him to activities, does tea on occasion, tidies, does children's laundry & ironing. Could be worse! Doing it through an agency means we don't have to think about tax, NI etc and we pay using childcare vouchers; we also get cover if she is off sick and we can't take time off (not that it's happened yet but it's good to know).

I've just been calculating my hours- and for me to carry on doing it myself like now I am just 5 hours short of a full week.

So options seem to be ask to reduce hours by 5 and lose some money - or do what I do now and accept that I need to do emails and stuff for 1 hour every weeknight ! Doesn't look so bad now I've written it down !

When dh is around he does some school runs when he can - so I catch up a bit then !!

So - I think maybe I am panicking over nothing !

Thanks for your help anyway !

Hants/Berks - possibly in my area then, but alas I can't help you personally.

Local Advert - shop window of a postoffice come newsagents. This will cost, but does not tend to be that much. May result in nothing, but may grab someone's attention.

Gumtree - certainly worth a try. Possibly try more than one local section on Gumtree... for example, Reading and Guildford gumtrees.

With advertising be very clear about what it is you are wanting. Think about things such as does the person need to have a car so they can collect your dd from school, or is it walking distance?

A sample advert perhaps:
HELP WANTED 4 DAYS PER WEEK (TERM TIME ONLY)

• Collection of child from xxx School
• Cook Tea for child.
• Hours: 3pm to 6pm
• Pay: xxx
• Days: Any 4 Days - Monday-Friday
• Start Date: xxx

Call YOURNAME on YOURMOBILE or Email: YOUREMAILADDRESS

Oh thanks for that - really helpful nannynick !

I think I might try after we move and see if anyone comes forward !!