Sadly I am going to have to get a new nanny for after-school care. Any ideas? Should I ask at the school or something??

[CountessDracula]

We have had the same nanny since dd was 6 months old and have known her longer. She is fantastic with dd but has been gradually getting more and more unreliable to the stage where we just cannot rely on her. She must have had 6 weeks off sick this year She does have health issues but she also is a moaner and takes the piss I think.

Now I would rather do anything than upset the status quo but it is really starting to stress us badly that we can't rely on her.

What is the best way to find a replacement? I need to sort something out before I get rid of her as I just know she will skive off during her notice period so I am just going to pay her off. Hence I can't advertise in local windows etc.

It will only be for 2/3 days a week 3.30 to 6.30, I was wondering if I should approach the school and see if they can recommend anyone. Any other ideas?

Where abouts are you-lets see if anyone here can help..... Thats if you want to disclose that? Understand if not and would recommend asking at the school as they could possibly have a list of local childminders/or would there be a Mum interested in your dd's class??

Sorry to hear you are having these problems. In 10 years as a nanny i was off for just 5 days total in the whole 10yrs!

Contact local FE college - you might find a childcare student looking for work.

Lots of nursery school/playgroup/Montessori teachers have school children in the afternoons.

Asking around at the school is a bit risky - you don't want the word to get back to the nanny.

Lots of part time jobs on gumtree.com, lots of nannies look there, ditto nannyjob.

It sounds like a good job for a nanny with her own child/ren, if that's something you'd consider.

Anyone local with an au pair, who isn't busy in the afternoons?

local authority websites usually have links to childminder lists, ditto Ofsted.

My guess is that your nanny is staying in the job because she loves your dd, but the job itself doesn't suit her any more, iyswim.

Yes you may be right about that

I am in SW14

Will ask around neighbours too

Oh no, CD. But, then for one nanny to last 6 years you have done really well. Have you had a browse through Gumtree? Are there other kids in DD's class who have a nanny and might like to organise a share? Or, you could try contacting people through nannyjob? But, of course, any of these things risk the nanny finding out through the grapevine.

Those are really short hours. Why not look for a childminder who can pick up at the gate? You could even use a childminder as temp cover between nannies. I did this once and it worked out fine. It took away the stress while I looked for a nanny I wanted rather than being in a panic to find one ASAP.

I have looked at gumtree
I realise is short hours, I am not really sure what to do. I ought to get an au pair but can't face anyone living in

Does DD have any friends at school who have nannies?

Have you tried a childminder search?

www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp

don't you have any after school clubs?

ideas such as childcare students from local college are good, but they are 99.9% of the time a very short term solution, as they qualify and get ft jobs, etc.

long term reliable care is best with childminders IMO. the council should have a list of registered childminders in your area.

dont the school have an afterschool club?

do any of dd's friends go to childminders or have aupairs?

the website Gloria linked is excellent

yes it is
thanks

Just spoke to a lovely sounding childminder who has three children at dd's school! She is going to see if she can fit us in and if so we can go and check her out at the weekend

I'll take my commission in the form of a drink at the Christmas meet-up.

yes you should!
Only prob is what about her after school stuff like ballet?

we have used gumtree and recruited undergraduate students. beware gumtree - lots and lots of responses - lots and lots of dross.

Thechildminder might be willing to take her. My DD does ballet in Twickers and there are several kids inher class who are brought there by their childminders. Find out what childcare arrangements other kids in the ballet class have.

I must say choosing my kids activities is a definite advantage of having a nanny. But, I think for your short hours, that a child minder will be much more stable than a nanny. Unless you can find a friend with a nanny who would be willing to share the nanny with you.

u/grad students - don't need long hours, pms usually ok. have an incentive to stick at the job, intelligent etc etc.

oh yes good idea
I may ring Roehampton Uni they do childcarey sort of stuff there

are you working part time (had in the back of my mind you were back full time)?

are you sure you don't need a nanny? just thinking about sick days and school holidays etc.

we are pondering this too at the moment. Shame we aren't closer!

oh it is Can you move

Well I work from home one day a week and dh one day a week so on those days we will be able to do it

I may go a bit p/t so i can do it two days

I know sickness will be a pain but my mum is close enough to help out with that.

aah I see. Don't forget to check St Mary's college (think it is called that...) - it's here in Strawberry Hill and seems to do lots of teaching/childcare related courses.

I live in SW14 and used an agency called AferSchoolNannies based in Battersea for about a year a couple years ago (3.30-6pm). The first one they supplied became unreliable - not their fault (I ignored gut feeling when I interviewd her), but they immediately replaced her with a fantastic girl - she was so reliable that on 7/7 she rang me during the day as soon as she heard the news to say if I was stuck in town she would stay as long as it took and if necesary stay all night till I or Dh could get back, and would keep the TV off etc so DC did not hear. Only after we got back did she reveal that she'd had no news from her dad (in town)all day and was hoping to get news when she got home. She had not betrayed any inkling of this to us or the children - whattagirl.
Sorry - off topic, but hope you get similar.

I mean AfterSchoolNannies

i have used after school nannies and the quality of the candidates was not good plus the rates were pretty inflated.