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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

Concerns with nursery and considering a nanny instead. Any tips for finding a good part time nanny?

26 replies

Satlie2019 · 12/12/2021 21:47

Hi, I wondered if anyone had any advice about part time nanny hiring? It is not something my husband and I had considered until last week. We have a 9 month old and had put a deposit down to secure a place at a local ofsted outstanding nursery we had loved for when he was one, so thought we were sorted.

However, it has becime clear that our nusery of choice is not suitable and as all the child care we might consider locally is now full, we are considering a nanny. I am only returning to work part time and we will have help from family for one day a week, so we would only need a nanny two days a week (which also makes it slightly more affordable).

I have no idea how to find a decent nanny and if they would want to work for us only part time. I would want to be a good employer, so they are happy (and also so they are less likely to leave). All new to us. We would only need the nanny to care for our baby (no house work or cooking other than heating our baby's meals). We live in the sout east, in a semi rural village. Any advice? Thank you in advance.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nannynick · 12/12/2021 22:04

I am looking for two days per week, so I guess other nannies must be as well. I'm in West Surrey.
Parents find me via ChildcareCoUk and Facebook local community group. I initially provide some written references, then we arrange to meet. If we get along, then verbal references are available from families I work for/have worked for.

NuffSaidSam · 12/12/2021 22:08

You will need to register as an employer, pay tax, provide a proper contract etc.

You can find nannies through agencies, childcare.co.uk, nannyjob.co.uk or word of mouth. I'd start with word if mouth and childcare.co.uk.

Be clear about what you want (both with yourself and with the nannies you meet). If you can be flexible with which days you need you'll have more choices.

Original poster

Satlie2019 · 12/12/2021 23:59

@nannynick thank you. Unfortunately we are not in Surrey, but good to know people are looking for part time work. Hope you find the right job. Good tip about local Facebook pages. Should I add a photo to any childcare.co.uk profile?

@NuffSaidSam thank you. Yes we can be a quite flexible about days, which should hopefully help.

OP posts:

nannynick · 13/12/2021 06:17

Yes, have a photo on ChildcareCoUk. Picture of your family ideally, it comes out really small.

Put as much detail in the listing as possible.

NuffSaidSam · 13/12/2021 09:12

I would say the photo is up to you, it doesn't bother me or any of the nannies I know whether a family has a photo or not. I think the pressure childcare.co.uk put on people to have a photo is quite problematic tbh! Do whatever works for you on that front.

jannier · 13/12/2021 17:38

The photo thing on Childcare.co.uk is odd, at the moment they won't let childminders update details without a photo of a person. So no pictures of the setting or ofsted grading but I guess santa would get through. I won't update my details becouse I've had a friend approached in the street.

NuffSaidSam · 13/12/2021 22:10

I've had the same thing. Carers can't update their profile without a picture of themselves, it's still optional for families. I emailed them about it, pointing out the security risks inherent with that policy and they basically told me it's their company and they can do whatever they like. Which is true, but not great customer service.

jannier · 13/12/2021 23:26

@NuffSaidSam
Thats a typical response and if you query anything on their childminding fb page they ban you.

Original poster

Satlie2019 · 14/12/2021 08:11

Thanks again for all your help. It does sound like childcare.co.uk is putting a lot of pressure on people to add profile pictures, which kind of puts me off adding one!

Just in case anyone have any advice about this you do not mind sharing, we are actually thinking about my DH taking our baby for one day too now, which would mean we would only need childcare for 1 day a week (we could be flexible about which day but unfortunately it would probably have to be a mid week day not Monday or Friday). Do you think we are likely to be able to find a nanny to cover this?
Thank you

OP posts:

jannier · 14/12/2021 10:05

Have you thought about using a childminder? They are registered and inspected to the same standards by the same ofsted inspectors but ten to be cheaper and more flexible than nurseries.

Original poster

Satlie2019 · 14/12/2021 10:59

Thank you, I would have thought that a good childminder would be my first choice. We only went with the nursery as it is so close and was meant to be amazing (it did seem lovely when we first looked round). However, our son has a number of serious allergies that require an epipen that bizarely the nursery were not taking seriously, so we are looking at other options. I spoke to a local childminder who seemed lovely, but she is now full and anyway I can quite see that multiple serious allergies might be difficult for a childminder to manage (although I would have thought that the nursery should have been able to cope). Thank you though, it is a sensible idea.

OP posts:

jannier · 14/12/2021 13:49

Really odd they arenot taking allergies seriously especially when lo has an epipen. Did they ask for your care plan?
My house is nut free even if I'm not working. I have seperate area for mindees food storing dairy and gluten free we also have to avoid celery and shellfish at the moment. An epipen goes everywhere with us.

NuffSaidSam · 14/12/2021 14:16

The only way to find out nanny availability in your area is to advertise the position and see what response you get. There are nannies looking for one day a week. Whether they'll be in your area/available the day you need them is impossible to say, but definitely worth advertising the position to see.

Original poster

Satlie2019 · 14/12/2021 14:36

@jannier it was very odd. I think they thought as he has never had a very serious reaction I was just an overly anxious parent, whereas he quite possibly has only never had a serious reaction because he has only ever been exposed to very tiny amounts when testing him for allergies, as he was identified as high risk for allergies early on. The hospital specialist has told us we need to be very careful with him. The nursery's attitude was incredibly upsetting and has made me nervous of any nursery now tbh, but I have spoken to several other local nurseries and they all seemed to take it very seriously, as you would expect. The nursery we were planning on attending is now being a bit more sensible about DS's allergies, but only after I kicked up a fuss, so I have lost faith in them.

Are you a childminder, sounds like you are very careful. Thank you for the advice.

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Original poster

Satlie2019 · 14/12/2021 14:37

@NuffSaidSam yes that sounds sensible. Thank you

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 14/12/2021 14:50

Lots of women do a 4 day week so it's not unusual to find a nanny trying to fill one day.
Have used childcare.co.U.K. In the past but the reviews from people who have had issues make me wary of them. Look for nanny agencies online too.
The nanny payroll company will give you draft contracts and other useful docs when you register with them.

jannier · 14/12/2021 15:09

@Satlie2019
Yes I am.

You would think the fact he hasn't Epipen would tell them it's serious you don't get them for intollerances or becouse a parent is over anxious. I think I'd put a complaint in even if your leaving.

jannier · 14/12/2021 15:50

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams
I think as a parent it's not so bad. Dont pay for membership put full details of exactly what you need. Age of child, hours, area. Then like any profiles of interest if they are serious about finding work they will contact you becouse they pay as well.

NuffSaidSam · 14/12/2021 15:57

Not with nannies. Nannies don't pay, so if you want to contact them you will need to pay for membership. Maybe different for childminders because they're running a business so a bit of a different dynamic.

Original poster

Satlie2019 · 14/12/2021 19:20

@jannier yes I have already expressed my concerns, but I think I will give them some more detailed feed back, as wouldn't want them to behave like this with another child, it could actually be dangerous.

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Original poster

Satlie2019 · 14/12/2021 19:21

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams thank you, that is good to know

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DisappointingAvocado · 14/12/2021 19:31

We have used childcare.co.uk twice to find part time nannies, I've been very happy both times. In each case I paid for a month's premium membership so I could message people easily and I think it was well worth doing. We use a local agency to run payroll for us so we can use tax free childcare, it's a good option to make sure you're meeting all of your tax, pension contribution obligations etc.

Having a nanny is wonderful if you can afford it, especially IMHO when they are babies and really thrive on 1:1 care. Just be upfront about what day(s) you're looking for and go from there.

Original poster

Satlie2019 · 21/12/2021 06:22

@DisappointingAvocado, thank you, that makes me feel a bit better.

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Audreyhelp · 21/12/2021 06:28

[quote Satlie2019]@jannier it was very odd. I think they thought as he has never had a very serious reaction I was just an overly anxious parent, whereas he quite possibly has only never had a serious reaction because he has only ever been exposed to very tiny amounts when testing him for allergies, as he was identified as high risk for allergies early on. The hospital specialist has told us we need to be very careful with him. The nursery's attitude was incredibly upsetting and has made me nervous of any nursery now tbh, but I have spoken to several other local nurseries and they all seemed to take it very seriously, as you would expect. The nursery we were planning on attending is now being a bit more sensible about DS's allergies, but only after I kicked up a fuss, so I have lost faith in them.

Are you a childminder, sounds like you are very careful. Thank you for the advice.[/quote]
I am looking for a one day nanny job. This would fit in with my other job.
Childcare is good also my last job was from gumtree.

Audreyhelp · 21/12/2021 06:29

Sorry didn’t mean to copy you whole post .

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