New to UK - what are my options for 2 days a week of after-school care?

[hkmama88]

Hello! We just moved to the UK a few months ago and as I will be working part-time now we need 2 days of after-school care for our 3 children (7,5,3). The 3yo would need to be picked up from nursery at 1pm and his sisters from school at 3pm (all walking distance from home) and then being with them until we get home at 6pm. Would this require a part-time nanny? We have used sitters.com for evening babysitting - could I just book someone from there every week? What is the difference between a babysitter and a nanny? Would I have to do payroll/tax etc for such few hours a week? Am confused by the requirements and distinctions. Thanks in advance for your help!

A nanny would be an employee so you would need to sort out payroll, tax and ni etc, pay holidays and sick pay. A baby sitter from an agency would be unusual for a regular booking, their rates tend to be premium based on last minute availability and you may not have same one each week. Would you consider a childminder who looks after children in their own home, collects and are self employed? Some daycare nurseries would offer afterschool care. What are your plans for ad hc non school days and holidays?

Most people would use a childminder they are regulated and inspected by Ofsted and work to the same standards (EYFS) as school and private nurseries. Some schools are offering 30 hour funding if you are eligible but not all and it depends on if you want your child in school full time at such a young age redoing the same circle times, stories and activities morning and afternoon. Childminders can take the funding or it can be split, but as funding is less than normal rates some don't.

Yes it would moat likely require a part time nanny - it depends where you are how easy this will be to find. An agency might have no none available / different people different days - not great for day time childcare. Yes if a nanny you will be an employer but you can use a payroll agency inc some nanny speqcialist ones to sort out the legalities if this for you. A childminder might be an option but trying to find one for 3 children very part time would be nearly impossible where I am (south london) and you would have to pay two full days for the 3 year old.

Part time nanny, just do a Google search there are various free website to find people. You may get some one who has there own child and this can work well. The other thing is that they may want more hours, a 1 pm pick up makes it hard for them to do stuff in the morning so you might want to consider upping the hours each side

I wrote lots of info about employing a nanny on this thread yesterday.

What is the difference between a babysitter and a nanny?
A babysitter predominately cares for children at your home in the evening - though my occasionally do a bit earlier in the day. They do one-off assignments, you book a date and there is no on going obligation for you to book again or for them to agree to sit for you again. Not having any mutuality of obligation is important as it is a major factor in making them a service provider rather than you being their employer.

A nanny works for you at times you decide on a permanent basis. They commit to working for you for the hours/days you require, which are agreed in advance and typically are the same each week/month, though sometimes may be a bit more of a flexible agreement with a certain number of minimum hours per week or per month. A nanny is your employee as you decide when they work and what they do and it is a permanent arrangement.

Sitters babysitters will only come to your home address so won't pick up from another location. Some babysitting agencies do though. There's one near me called Allbairns which will pick up and drop off, but you may get a different person each time and it could be a bit unsettling for your younger children.

I'd look for a nanny. If you're in London getting someone to do a couple of afternoons shouldn't be too tricky.

Outside London in the Home Counties it is more difficult and you may have to employ someone for 2 whole days and have them do nursery duties (cleaning related to the children, cooking children's food, their washing ironing etc) in the morning during term-time. Although that would allow for any sickness to be covered or care during school holidays.

Thank you everyone - that is all very helpful. We are in greater london so will try and find a part-time nanny solution. Also helpful to know that we can potentially ask them to do more hours if they do some child-related housework!