No childminder or breakfast club

[RaggieDolls]

My children's childminder is closing in July. There is only one other childminder who drops off at their school and she is full.

There is a breakfast club but it starts too late for work. I have no family nearby.

After school club is fine time wise so that's sorted.

Any ideas on how I can find before school childcare from 7.30 a few days a week? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

Do you know any other parents close by? It's illegal but in your position I'd be finding someone I trusted to do it for an agreed sum.

Call the sum "expenses" so it's not like a wage.

This may not work but can one of you apply for flexible hours.

I know a cminder who is closing. A few mums are doing a swap some are doing different days to cover each other .

I ended up having a nanny of sorts. She was another school Mum’s Mum, who’d just left her full time job. She looked after the dc in my home so didn’t have to be ofsted registered but we did have to do a contract/employment type agreement. It was ideal for her as it was a few hours before and after school (she’d drop and collect from school) and full days on school holidays. We worked out a monthly rate to take that into consideration. That way we could both budget. It worked out cheaper for 2 dc than childcare. Would have been more expensive if there was only 1.

I found a uni student who was happy with a 7am-9am babysitting shift before her classes started. She finished their breakfast, supervised teeth and walked them to school. Perfect for both of us!

Find other parents (why mums,pp?!) and do a swap. Yes, you will need to do a day a week. Tell your work.

@HennyPennyHorror I thought you could use someone unregistered if it's less than 2 hours a day? I can't remember where I read that though?!

@Starlight456 I think DH could sort it so he could drop at the breakfast club but he works away a lot and where I do have flexibility in my role if I need to be somewhere by a certain time I have to be there iyswim? It's really worrying me about doing the commutes I sometimes have to do when he's away. It's already a massive push to get there with a 7.30 dropoff at the childminders.

@WhoKnewBeefStew That is EXACTLY what I need! It's 4.5 hours a week and the school is walking distance from my house. I'm happy to pay up well for it. It's just finding someone and where I am really worried about it I'm also aware it might be too soon for agreeing something for September.

School holidays are fine as we have a good holiday club.

May I ask how did you find her @PotatoScallop?

@PersonaNonGarter I'm part time so that's potentially an option although people seem quite sorted with their childcare given we aren't new starters. I'll ask around.

Definitely not telling work until something is sorted. They won't like any hint I might be late when my DH is away.

Plenty of people do it unofficially for just morning drops, my friend drives her neighbour to the supermarket (she doesn't have a car) and buys her food up to a certain value fortnightly.

Go on list for the other CM. Ask around. Au pair, or informal (illegal!) arrangements for the morning.

Sharing drop offs. DH could seek a role without frequent travel: working mothers usually do this, fathers can too!

Thank you. This is all really helpful and thought provoking.

@Loopytiles do you know if it is illegal if it's under 2 hours a day?? Looking at the Ofsted site it suggests it is legal to look after children for less than two hours a day even if you are being paid?

I think I'll give Ofsted a ring to clarify this point next week.

Ask the other childminder if she would mind putting you in touch with anyone else who's enquiring for her unavailable slots?

Childcare Act 2006
and the amendments is the relevant legislation.

If someone came to your home, then they would not fall under the legislation.

If someone provides a childcare service from their home, then the 2 hour rule kicks in, so they could do 1.5 hours of care but could not do any more than 1h59mins of care in any day (2am-6pm), without then having to become a registered childminder.

I think Ofsted did a factsheet about unregulated care some years ago, will see if it's still around.

Factsheet is now done via GovUk pages. Start here: www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-and-childcare-providers-register-with-ofsted

Thank you @nannynick. That is mega helpful.

Feeling a bit more hopeful now.

It can be sorted OP.

NannyNick is great on this kind of info

I found a student to do this for me on childcare dot co . U.K.

Worked really well as she was studying early years so it counted towards her experience and she was super reliable and kids really liked her

I had a local sixth former fill a gap like this for me for a year.

Could you chat to the breakfast club? My DH normally drops DC at breakfast club. When he is away with work I need to leave before the it starts, the staff very helpfully come early and sit in their car with my 2 until the building is unlocked then they help with set up.

Well done nick. Useful Info as always

Is there a college /6th form near by and you can put up a cars ?

Or ask another mum if less then 2hrs and drop off at their house