Childcare advice - Does what we need even exist??

[NoGoodAtHousework]

Due to a developing situation, I'm trying to do some research into childcare options.

I would potentially need someone to do school run and evening/overnight care. But here is the kicker, due to my job I might sometimes need it for a week at a time but then other times it may only be a few times a week with no evening or overnight...

The most obvious solution I assume would be live in nanny or similar? However, there would probably no need for it at all in the school holidays as DC would go to other parent...I don't know if that is something that can be dealt with?

One idea (don't even know if its even something that is possible) is that we pay a lower weekly rate but provide rented accommodation next door (we live behind some very nice 1 bedroom town centre apartments) with overnight allowance added as and when overnight care is carried out. Holidays with no 'duties' would mean they would be free to get a seasonal job or travel or whatever...Potentially wed have no issue with them having another job in general as long as we were the priority...

I'm looking at lots of options including private school that has flexible boarding but I am trying to be realistic about how deep my pockets are.....the above might be just as expensive

Basically, I need something flexible as my working away isn't regular or always predictable..

Any suggestion welcome...or am I searching for the impossible....

Please don't flame me for my naivety or ignorance...I just need to other opinions....

How old is/are the dc?

What's your budget and how old are your children?

Au pair sounds like it might work, with the proviso that they take holidays only when DC is with other parent. You’d need to provide accommodation and about £100 a week depending where you are, for about 30 hours a week average

Dc is nearly 8.… budget - As stupid as this sounds....I'm not sure as I have so many things to look at...I guess less than £1000 a month all in but that would also have to include extra curricular activities etc (which are inclusive at the private school)

Au pair sounds the best bet, if you can get a good trustworthy one. Alternatively your idea of renting a flat for a Mother's help could be good ( although, again, you'd have to be so careful - get them to rent in their name). I'm sure there's an answer OP - it's just a case of finding it!

I think flexi-boarding is your best option.

A nanny could do this. That way they'd have their own house and just stay at yours overnight when needed.

An au pair can't look after a child for a week at a time, that's far too much.

I don't think you'll get a nanny for under a £1000 a month either though.

Would an Au Pair really be expected to do overnight for a week at a time? Would you be home during the day in that week or away the whole time? That's a big ask for an au pair surely?

I have no experience in au pairs so I wouldn't go into anything expecting them to do over and above. It would be a school week and would be Mon-Thursday (nights) at the longest but can often be shorter due to the nature of the work. I can be at any end of the country with work often impacted by weather/third parties so guaranteeing it would only ever be 1 night is virtually impossible.

This is why I'm trying to understand the limitations of each option and whether I am completely pissing in the wind of having DC full time with the unpredictability of my job.

I agree flexi boarding is the best and potentially most stable option for DC.

A nanny is unlikely to be keen on this unless you agree a minimum payment each month AND agree a timeframe as to when you will ask her ie at least 5 days notice etc.
If it was me, I'd look into a "team". Find at least 2, possibly 3 nannies who are looking for ad hoc additional work. You could structure it in multiple ways - eg you pay a small monthly fee to each of them with each of them committing to keep certain nights available up to say 48 hours ahead of time, and then you pay the actual babysitting fee on the days you need it Or you just have a WhatsApp group and every time you nee it, you send it out and see whose free (with a roster system of sorts for fairness eg its nanny A's turn to choose first, if she can't do it, move down the list) etc.

Alternatively, if you're willing to pay accomodation, find someone who has more regular morning hours or perhaps caring responsibilities and who will value the free accommodation in exchange for last minute babysitting and extra income.

Good news, yes this exists, I do almost exactly this. (But live out)

Bad news, I get more than double your budget pre tax (live out -although you couldn't rent a nice 1 bed apartment near my boss's house for £1000/month)

However as your DS is older would you consider a Nanny with own child, who may well have a lower hourly rate?

I think a "pool" of nannies is probably a logistical nightmare (and you'd pay £££ in payroll and tax for them all)

What area of the uk are you?

Thankyou for all of the ideas, we are in the West Midlands.

Its so difficult to not be able to do what I think may be the best for my DC because of finances, I don't count myself as low paid either.

I know all this is a first world problem and people are in less fortunate positions, I'm just trying to 'have it all' I suppose.

My daughter boarded from year 5 at a prep school; there were at least a couple of families using flexi boarding quite young for reasons that sound similar to yours. The youngest who occasionally stayed she did say had an older sibling there though. Although barely 8 is young for boarding, it might be a very good solution for what you are needing.

A term-time nanny could potentially get holiday-only nannying with another family, I could imagine that sort of arrangement working out, but there might be a lot of chance in getting the right combination sorted out.

Meant to say, a big part of the reason flexi boarding is likely to be best, is if only one child is involved.

There is only one child and to be honest, the school have only done the flexi boarding (the don't have any full time boarders) due to feedback from parents. They offer the boarding from Yr4 and have a lot of take up even from the younger ones. Its only a few nights a week to give flexibility to interested parents.