When to move from nanny to before and after school club

[satsumagirl]

DS1 and DS2 are now 7 and 9 and we've had lots of problems with nanny sickness this year. Our school breakfast and after school club should have some spare places, and I'm also thinking that my kids are getting older so need less hands on help all the time. DH and I work full time in demanding jobs and although we'd have to do more at home we are struggling to cover for nanny absences. Not sure what to do.

If you think your children will have less sick leave than the nanny, then I’d switch to the clubs (because obv if they’re too ill for clubs you’ll have to miss work).

@8by8 Good point. They are rarely ill touch wood, having had tons of bugs at nursery. I've spent way more time covering for nanny absences than they've been ill. I'm so sick of it and it's affecting my job and health.

Do the timings work? After school clubs can be useful but may stop at 5:30/6pm. Look through past school newsletters to see if there are ever early closures or things which mean the before/after school club does not run. You need whatever you use to be reliable.

Yeah in that case id switch to the clubs - you’ll save money as well!

What did you decide in the end? We had similar issues with nanny being off six days in six months and that, together with underperformance, makes us wonder whether to stop having a nanny altogether would be less stressful...

@SuiGeneris Things are going well with current nanny (fingers crossed) so staying as is for the time being. It's so tricky isn't it. Childcare is a right ball ache 🤕