CM CLUB: Ok your help needed here-what to do!

[kkey21]

Hi-slight dilemma and could do with some advice!

I mind 2 children Tues+Weds 7.30am-6pm(+Thurs but this day is irrevalant as other children minded)....I have posted before about the ages being hard work (including my own son they are all 2yrs and under)

The Main salary comes from child A. and his parents have just announced they are moving house so he will be leaving me. I cannot manage on just one childs salary at all and i know it will be almost impossible to fill the exact same days but due to other commitments i can't work on Mons and Fris....

Question is as child B. has been here a year now, would it be an idea that i have an honest and open chat with her parents, about child A. leaving and mention i need 'X' amount to be able to continue with just her child? (I know it seems cheeky but its worth asking as the only other option is to give notice, so surely its worth an ask?)
Another possibility is i would consider still looking after child A. which would involve me and my son a car journey of about 45mins each end of the day, which is not ideal but it could be an option, (Mum was really upset and crying when she told me, as she feels guilty leaving here as her son is just so settled and very happy-she is really worrying about not finding anyone else she likes so much) What would be a reasonable amount to charge for this? (They were originally willing to pay for a nanny-and when they found me as a childminder they were happy as i have 10yrs Nannying background) And also i still want to keep it as 'childminding' rather than 'nannying' would ofsted be ok about me doing some of the care in the childs home or would it be best to keep that part under wraps?

Oh dear i really need to sit down and work out all my possibilities! I don't want to let anyone down but will have to say goodbye to both and return to nannying if i can't find a happy medium as sadly i have bills/mortgage to pay!!!

Any help/advice is really appreciated! xxx

i think you can be a childminder from anoterh house.. ie the house of child B...

but dont you have to have all the relevant ofstead checks etc carried out at that house?

(Im only a nanny btw but that is how i understand it)

also if you are doing the same stuff (but in child Bs house rather than yours) why does it matter if you are a CM or a nanny? I assume your daily routine etc will be the same, but as a nanny you dont have all the hassel with being self employed...

you will also save wear and tear at your hosue and energy from cooking meals / heating etc as you will be in the childs hosue rather than your own!

Also good luck looking for nanny work... i know several nannies down here (hampshire / sussex) who have been seriously job hunting for months and have found NOTHING at all (and they dont even have chidlren to take to work with them)

The nanny/childminder problem will be relevant for Tax & NI

I want to stay as a childminder really as i will still be doing this with other families on a Thursday as normal from my house-so to go back to being a nanny would just confuse being employed and self employed....
I think i need to keep child A. based at mine but it obviously would include sometime at his house/in his town as there are lots of fab groups around there (i used to nanny there before having my son)
So really i should be looking at the extra cost of me leaving and travelling 20miles each day to and from work and equally to compensate for just having the one child!
Need to sit and work out figures that would work for me and family involved....I need to work out if its an option...
Then there child B to consider as i would then have to give notice...
Do you think i should speak to family of child B. as i would like to give thme the option of reviewing fee's as on current rate (it hasn't gobe up in the year and they did bargain me down!) i won't be able to afford to keep Child B. on her own here.......

45 min car journey each way, seems costly to me. Is it 45 min there and back, or just one way? As if it is 90 min return trip, that's 3 hours a day you and your own child will spend commuting, assuming that you actually return back to your home.
Think you need to work out the costs of the travelling - fuel prices are going up constantly at the moment, maintaining car is pricy, insurance, plus your actual time.

What would happen to child B while you were commuting with child A? Or would the commute only be possible if you terminate child B?

Only you know if it's financially viable to you, and without knowing the figures, no one else can advise you. So calculate all the figures and see what makes sense to you, plus your sanity (can you stand driving with 2 young children for the period of time - 45/90 min).

Would it be viable just to be nanny for child A (you would be an employee for those days, so factor in say 25% of your gross income going in tax as a very rough estimate).
Then childmind on the other days?

Hi Nannynick-yes commute would be 90 mins round trip but was thinking i would probably spend alot of the time in child A's house/in the area as we tend to g over that way to places anyhow....
We are soon now thinking of trying for our next baby ourselves so being an employee again (if i was to be a nanny) won't be viable as i would need to be employed for 26weeks before due date to qualify for any Mat Pay and as the move may not happen until Feb?march time i could be quite pregnant by then if it worked that way.... so in my interest is to stay childminding as then i am entitlled to mat allowance as i apy my Nat ins.....
Thanks so much for your help/advice....
If i was going ahead i would need to terminate child B's contract---but after alot of thought this weekend i would really ahte to do that so i feel its time to chat woith child B's parents about a review in my fee's........
Also ahve just ahd an enquiry for two days a week-and they are tues and weds so perfect although i am not sure the timing will work out!!! xxx