Childminders and shifts

[Boston3164]

I’m looking for advice around reasons expectations with finishing a childminder. I’m returning to work in May and will be working shifts. I work 2 earlies, 2 lates, 2 nights and then have 4 days off. In total each month I would need an average of 18 days covered. On lates I would only really need afternoon sessions as OH would collect when he finishes, likewise he would be home weekends. I’ve pnly met one childminder and she couldn’t accommodate mixed days and I would have to book him in full time at a cost of £800 per month plus additional cost on top for any days out they have. I understand that a placement has to be financially viable but equally it’s frustrating paying for a third more childcare than I need. Can anyone advise me on what I can reasonably hope to find? I am will to commit to maybe a minimum of 3 full days each week even though some weeks I’ll onky need 1. Many thanks x

Honestly it’s a case of some can and some can’t accomodate shift workers. In the past I would have said no but these days I could say yes. However I only work four days so not a Friday and I think this is increasingly common in childminders too.

Good luck.

We have had to do this over the years. Horrible shift pattern.

We managed to make a deal with one childminder that we guaranteed X numbers of hours over the month, which was enough for it to be financially viable for them, and any extra hours we needed would be topped up. It worked OK but was a nightmare working out the rota.

Plus DH - who did that shift pattern - felt he never had a second off and was always rushing to get DC. Then sometimes DC were with a knackered DH when they might have been better off with the childminder.

Don't underestimate the effect the shifts will have and your need for the odd day to recover.

I'd love to say there's an answer but generally you end up paying more than you need.

Sadly I’ve worked shifts for a while but had my mom to help out. It seems at them moment that a nanny part time might actually be cheaper!

I would have probably come to an agreement as pp suggested when I was childminding. I would agree with you a minimum number of hours per month and top up the rest if necessary. Childminders can be very flexible so it is worth asking around. I would have welcomed the flexibility and worked with you.

Check childminders near hospitals. For my eldest when he was a baby we had a wonderful CM who accommodated our shift patterns as she was well below full capacity (and didn’t want/need to do so). We just gave four weeks notice of what we needed and paid for what we used.

Don’t underestimate the cost of a nanny. It’s dependant on area of course, but round here you’ll pay £10-12 per hour for a nanny, sometimes more for part time/unreliable hours. Plus there’s the costs of food, increased household bills, travel, insurances.
It would still be cheaper to pay for a full time place at the childminders.

I work the same shift pattern and have used a childminder for years. We pay for the hours we use plus an extra fee to hold the place. This does not equate to the cost of a full time place, it doesn't even come to half that. It works for her because we are guaranteed 'business', and she gets more money than she would for similar hours (childminders aren't full every hour of every day anyway) and of course it works for us.
A nanny was prohibitively expensive and we didn't want to be someone's employer with all the responsibility that entails. Also, no one wanted the varying part time hours.

Ask around, advertise on FB childminder groups, and advertise and pay to DM all local childminders on childcare.co.uk. Someone might be able to assist. Do not pay for a full time space, and if you find you have no option but to pay for more than you need, make sure the hours are yours to use and the childminder isn't filling them with other children.

The upside of shifts is that you get to spend loads of time with your child during the day when others are working. I feel very privilaged to have this and wouldn't swap it for a 9-5 any day! Good luck with your return to work

I think this will come down to how much demand there is for childcare in your area. Where I am, childminders tend to be full, so I wouldn't want to hold a full time place open for you instead of getting a full time child.
However if childminders struggle to fill their spaces then someone may be grateful for a guaranteed income rather than nothing.

You may need to just keep looking to find someone who either struggles to fill spaces (maybe in a poor location/very rural) or someone who chooses to operate below capacity (nearing retirement/family member with care needs etc).

I used to work this shift pattern and managed to tweak it whereby I didn't work Monday's (except nights). That meant only paying for 4 days a week.
Still cost over £800 a month tho and she wasn't there for many days

Any way you can request flexible working to accommodate this?