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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Can’t find childminder

18 replies

DomPom47 · 29/09/2021 22:32

My DD last year hated attending breakfast club and after school club. One reason was not many kids attending and another was her feeling a little cautious of the older kids (she was in Reception). I then had DS and was/still currently on maternity leave and have been able to take her to and collect from school.
In a few months I return to work and have started talking to her about breakfast and after school club and she is not happy. I have looked online for a childminder while can drop her off and pick her up and keep her for 2 hours after school but have had no luck online. I am not close to any of the mum’s on the school run and ideally want someone ofsted registered etc but no one close by that I have emailed has any space or they do but don’t do pick up and drop off at the school DD is at. No idea what to do because if I end up with breakfast club and after school club again I will end up with tears and tantrum every morning and it breaks my heart but I don’t really have any other option. Not working is not a choice and there’s no family or friends close by that can help.
Any advise on what I can do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nannynick · 30/09/2021 07:56

Have you contacted your council's Family Information Service? They may know of childminders who are in the local area. May be the same one's as on the online system you have already used but sometimes childminders choose not to be on the online systems, so you never know you may find a few more to contact.

What childcare will you be using for DS? Having care at your home from a nanny is very costly but might be an option to look at, as they can care for DS and DD.

Original poster

DomPom47 · 30/09/2021 09:42

A friend from work gave birth just a month before me and she has someone that will take care of her DD at her house and I asked if she would also be able to look after my DS at hers and she agreed. This will be the arrangement until 3 and DS goes to nursery. The minder doesn’t drive and with two little ones on two buses and a ten minute walk to get to my DD’s school not practical to use her for dropping off and pickups.

Did not think of the council so will look through website today and do a cross reference with the people on the website.
I just wish I had a way of making DD accept and enjoy breakfast club and after school club as that would solve problem but no way. DH works further away than me and so he can’t share drop off and pick ups with me so I just think 5 days of tears every day is going to emotionally destroy me.

OP posts:

Mumtogirls90 · 30/09/2021 09:48

Could you speak to school about your worries? All schools will have pastoral/wellbeing support staff who may be able to offer some support to your little one. Is there a reason your little one doesn't like breakfast club etc? They may settle after a short while if support staff are aware of any anxieties.

If not, someone I know hires a 'nanny' on her working days. I'm not sure of cost (probably more than sending to childminder) but the nanny drops her DD to school, looks after the baby in the day then collects from school and stays until either parent gets home from work.

Hope you manage to sort something out

Original poster

DomPom47 · 30/09/2021 10:10

Thank you.
It seems to be that she is worried about the “big” kids. The primary is single form and from what I have seen the kids are all well behaved and nice. I will speak to her class teacher before half term to speak to her and may do a trial 1 - 2 days before I go back to works and see how she goes. Before reception I was able to leave her at 7.30 at nursery and collect her at 5.00 and she was fine. I thought reception until I went on maternity leave would be a breeze but everyday was a struggle.

OP posts:

babybrain77 · 30/09/2021 10:19

Is there a local mums or school facebook group that you could post on to connect with the parents of one or more of the older kids? Perhaps you could arrange to meet up out of school at a park or something and see if one of them would be willing to 'look after' DD at breakfast/after school club. Children often like having the responsibility IME so may not be a huge ask.

I really feel for you, dropping off in tears is horrible and really ruins your day. We had a few weeks of it with DS at pre-school and I nearly pulled him out completely. We eventually managed to connect with another child starting the following term and did loads of playdates before, and now DS and that little boy are really excited to see each other at school - upset is completely forgotten.

Original poster

DomPom47 · 30/09/2021 10:51

No schools Facebook page and not sure of local parents page. Think I will ask headteacher if she knows any parents who do drop offs/pick ups and have a chat with them and take it from there. First two weeks I was going to work with eyes puffy as I felt terrible leaving her in tears. It’s so tough.

OP posts:

drspouse · 30/09/2021 12:00

Schools usually do have a list of CM that work with that school but local to me, I think at least 1 or 2 CMs have gone out of business due to multiple COVID-related closures. Unfortunately the vacancies at CMs in my area are mainly not school aged children and they are also mainly areas of our city with high unemployment (so, nobody works near the biggest schools with lots of working parents).

MiaMarshmallows · 30/09/2021 12:28

Have you tried Koru kids?

copernicium · 30/09/2021 12:34

Unfortunately, Covid ruined a lot of childminders, with the constant closures, not being allowed to collect older children, not being paid to isolate, people working from home, not being paid the already tiny amount for funded children if they stayed at home through Covid; as well as the lack of support from the government. I suspect it will get worse.

Our LA EY team will now send out an email to all providers asking if anyone has spaces, if you're desperate ... maybe try that?

Original poster

DomPom47 · 30/09/2021 12:49

Koru Kids did not have any close by that could commit to Monday - Friday.
Stupidly I did not even consider Covid as a reason as to why I was having difficulty finding someone close by. It is hard and I feel for childminders who have had their incomes impacted by Covid and the rules that schools have implemented.
Will get into my local council site.

OP posts:

pokemeinthemorning · 30/09/2021 18:24

I'm having a similar issue. I moved here over two years ago and until now have managed (just) to work from home but now that is coming to an end and I have to go out to work. I still can't find anyone to drop and pick my children. I don't know what I'm going to do.

pokemeinthemorning · 30/09/2021 18:24

Our school doesn't even do breakfast and after school clubs either. :(

Original poster

DomPom47 · 30/09/2021 19:03

@pokemeinthemorning

Our school doesn't even do breakfast and after school clubs either. :(

It’s incredibly difficult - really feel for you due to lack of breakfast and after school club. Working from home was definitely a blessing in terms of childcare and then maternity leave. My mum was a stay at home mum and I never even thought about childcare until had my DD and with nursery it was so easy but now it is difficult. I keep thinking until they are in secondary school this is going to continue to be an issue probably 😔 I hope you manage to sort something out 💐

OP posts:

Maryann1975 · 30/09/2021 19:19

I wonder if you would have more luck finding a childminder for your dd if you were willing to put your ds with them during the day. I don’t do school runs anymore but if I had a vacancy I was struggling to fill, collecting your dd would definitely be more attractive if I had your ds all day.

Original poster

DomPom47 · 01/10/2021 07:53

I will speak to school then look at council website and then if this all fails email a few of the childminders I contacted and see if having by son with them will convince them (not sure convince is right word).

OP posts:

languagelover96 · 02/10/2021 14:00

Try to talk to the school about your concerns. You can always email or phone them. If that does not work, your next move is to contact the local council to see if they can help or not. If that does not solve the issue, then you should interview a few qualified local childcare providers.

CoronaPeroni · 02/10/2021 14:16

Sorry haven't rtft but it's possible the main 'big kids' will have left by now which might be a good starting point in the conversation with dd.

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/10/2021 19:10

What will you be paying fir your ds childcare

Maybe look for a nwoc who will be cheaper to look after both children at your home

Ask the school what cm they have

Are you not on a wats app class chat.? We have one for our reception class

Ask on your local town fb page for cm recommendations that pick up from your school

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