Right, that's PPH and Issymum sorted, now can you turn your minds to my childcare conundrum, please?

[frogs]

The dust is finally settling on our housemove (and dust is also much in evidence in the house itself, but that's another story). Ds has just started Y3 in his new school, and dd2 has been offered a full-time school nursery place in a local school (not the same one as ds, inconveniently). I work from home and can do a reasonable amount during school hours, but also need 2-3 longer days where I can work uninterrupted until 5.30 or 6. Ds has the option of after-school club, but dd2 doesn't as they only take over 5's (she's 3.5).

So...

From September I will need someone to do the following: pick up ds (7) at 3.15 from his school, sprint down the hill to pick up dd2 from her school at 3.30 (this is tight but just about feasible), keep them productively occupied for a couple of hours (I'm thinking park/playground/swimming), and then bring them home, possibly including preparing supper and feeding them. Days and times could be pretty flexible.

I know this sounds like an aupair gig, but we really don't have space to have someone living in ds and dd2 are already sharing a bedroom much to ds's disgust. Also dh is deeply anti the notion of a resident teenager, and I'm inclined to agree with him. I was thinking of advertising in Simply Childcare for after-school arrangement, maybe a nanny-share or mother with own child. But not sure if I'm approaching it the right way does anyone have any other helpful suggestions? We're in North London btw.

Frogs - I would set out exactly what you are looking for and take out an ad in Simply Childcare and on Gum tree. Both are good for finding the non-standard hours childcare arrangements

When do you reckon I should put ads in for a September start, then? I was thinking beginning of July, so that I'm not looking too far ahead. But maybe sooner would be better?

Good idea, will call them. What sort of response does Gumtree get -- what proportion of complete timewasters should I expect? And what is the current rate of pay in London for this kind of setup?

I'm really out of the loop on childcare nowadays, so would be really helpful to have input.

Thanks.

Bump.

With gumtree, is it best to put your name and telephone no in the ad itself, or get people to email you?

I'm sure I once read a thread on this very site that mentioned a Live Out Au Pair?

possibly a hallucination

Indeed! I've just googled it, and found that there are people (mainly on gumtree, on a quick look) offering and looking for live-out aupair jobs. Hmm, could be just what we need. But where do they live?

I always thought this company, called Afterschool Nannies, would be a good option - but have no personal experience. If you try them, let us know what you find out!

www.afterschoolnannies.com/

Have just left a message for them, earlybird. Will let you know what develops.

Hiya frogs. I can see this will be long & bossy, so get yourself a mug of tea.

1. Gumtree - you will get deluges of responses - some of which say "we apply for your esteemed corporation and come from [insert country] in three days". So - do the opposite of what you'd usually do in an ad and make it very very specific as to exactly what you want, and (very important I think) say "we will only respond to applicants who fit the above criteria" - as otherwise you will be racked with guilt at the 100+ emails of "sorry but no thanks" you just don't have time to send. Because of the potential response-deluge, I have always said "replies by email only please, with cv attached" - would really not advise you giving a phone no. That sifts out some timewasters. I also always say "priority to local candidates" as that gives you a simple reason for saying no to someone. (I also always insist they show evidence of right to work in UK.)

2. Who might want your job? - as others have said, absolutely no need for a live-in person for this. Lots of (slightly older than trad au pair age) language students want a job where they can live with their friends/boyfriend etc., & which they can combine with other PT work. Not being a live-in job will affect what you pay, though - live-in jobs obviously don't pay as much in cash terms. However, where you are now is a big advantage - these people want to live a bit out from the centre because housing is cheaper. Do you have any language schools around you? They tend to congregate near that sort of thing. Pay - £7-9/hr (net) seems to be the range. £9/hr would be for particularly good candidate with something extra to offer (music training for help with practising ...?)

3. Share or a nanny with her own child? - it might work in your case. We went a long way down the nanny-with-own-child route before we got our current nanny (who doesn't have her own child), and it tends to mean you get a very good grade of candidate but for us - where we can't be so flexible - it just didn't stack up. Sharing might not work so well, as the people you share with might not be flexible. Basically, you'll get a better grade of person but the addition of lots of admin variables, like What if nanny's own child is ill? What if you want ds to be taken to an afterschool party but it's nanny's child's naptime? What about babysitting? Etc.

4. Timing of ads: not sure about Simply Childcare - but gumtree - if you're looking for September I would put something in at end of the school term (before the lang. students go off backpacking) & then if that doesn't produce, again about a month before you need the person to start. Be ready to do a good bit of back-&-forthing on email & interviewing, so you'll need to be in London for the two/three weeks that takes.

(I tried Afterschool Nannies, & they sucked their teeth over our job & produced precisely nobody. Oh, the one useful thing they did say is that with jobs like this you do have to accept there'll be something of a turnover - people don't do one job year in year out, but more like 12 mths max. in any one job.)

hi frogs!
I think gumtree is very good, but you have to be very specific in your ad as to what you want (including fluent English if that is the case), and set up a NEW hotmail address to put in the ad to cope with all the responses (on no account put in a phone no! or you will be deluged). I'd also put at the end of the ad words to the effect that you will only respond to those applications you want to take forward. Also ask people to include their CVs and references in responses (otherwise you get people responding saying "I'm answering in response to your ad. I'm a fully qualified nanny. Please let me know how much you pay" which tells you nothing and is boring.

I have used gumtree to find a temp nanny to cover my normal nannies honeymoon - I got about 140 responses! Spoke to 3 on the phone, interviewed one, and hired her - she was great. So good luck. I'd put in an ad before all the aussies etc go travelling for the summer, and if that doesn't work, put another one in towards the end of august.

ooh hi there mrs5pnips

(can you tell who it is yet?)

oh sorry bink said exactly the same thing but more concisely.

sorry bink!

hmmmmm. a mouse. mysterious, and global.

no, NO idea. give us a clue. what colour is your fur?

"more concisely"

tis a secret

tis hidden beneath my cloak of mystery

well you did 5 lines on gumtree and I did six...

I was being POLITE!

are you wearing shades too, tutter... I mean international mouse of mystery?

yes, polite with a lovely aroma of ... irony, perchance?

Thanks v. much, guys! I did a quick scoot through gumtree and was slightly perplexed by people putting their home and mobile numbers on it -- glad you agree with my instinct that that way madness lies.

Slightly perplexed at the more surreal turn the thread has taken, though...

it is often the way frogs
admit it, you love it!

(now, where has that mouse gone?)

Yes, yes, it all helps me put off the moment where I actually have to buckle down to some work!

Have been pondering rather wistfully these last few days your description of your children as 'logical' -- it sounds so peaceful. I think what I actually need is a Supernanny to take charge of dd2, who is completely impervious to reason, threats, bribes, promises, encouragement or any logic other than her own. And my older two were so easy. [sob]

PPN, how did the interview go?