Nanny housekeeper

[Oncetheystartschool]

We have 2 DC aged 7 and 4. The 4yr old will start school this year. At the moment we have a nanny 50 hours a week, which we've done since DC2 was 6months old. It means DH and I can both get to work and DC get picked up from school/nursery and taken to various clubs during the week. We need home-based childcare which is really reliable as DH and I both have pretty full on work schedules and I also have my parents that are both unwell who I visit every few days and take to weekly hospital appointments as they can't get there alone. I'm usually out of the house from 7.45 and DH from 8.15 (he does handover with nanny most days).

Once both DC are at school I'm not sure what the nanny will do during the day. We also have a cleaner who is taking maternity leave soon and so I am trying to plan ahead and offer a combined nanny and housekeeping job which works for her but is also more affordable for us in the long term. Does such a thing exist? I see it advertised but don't know anyone that does it. Would a nanny actually be willing to do housekeeping during school hours? Would a nanny be willing to reduce their hours during term time (I thought probably not)? Would I be better looking for afterschool and holiday clubs only and getting a cleaner separately?

Its such a minefield and I don't want to cause worry for our nanny but I do think we need to plan ahead for when school starts after the summer.

Do most people keep their nannies on the same contracts once DC are school age or is it common to change at this time?

She sounds a bit lazy. I'd do a proper task list for her with specific jobs. That's a long time to be doing housework! Good time to reset, either she'll agree or you find someone better (which doesn't sound hard).

I've been a nanny for 13 years...your nanny is taking the piss but I'm surprised you haven't done anything about this sooner?
You need to have a convo with her about how things in September will look and say you're happy to pay the hours the children are at school but things need to improve. Cooking for the children and children's laundry (at a minimum although if she's moving into housekeep territory you could say your laundry as well), children's rooms kept tidy and organised etc.
Whenever I've had a role where children are at school but I'm paid for those hours my role has always morphed into a house manager type role. So no major cleaning and scrubbing loos but I do the food shop, laundry for everyone including everyone's bed changes, any errands that need doing like parcels, I'm there for any deliveries or plumber etc to come round, I deep clean the dishwasher and washing machine once a month, take the cars for a car wash monthly if I use their cars, arrange birthday parties, I'm the point of contact for friends birthday RSVPs, I organise friends birthday presents, keep the children's diaries organised in terms of after school clubs and what needs to be taken where for activities...just all the general life admin that I can help the parents with really. If I'd finished everything then I would go home or chill at theirs until the kids pick up time but everything I needed to do would be done - I'd also weave my own errands in as working a 60 hour week didn't give me much time for myself lol.

You may not be expecting all that but the basic things of cooking, laundry and tidying should defo be done!

I'm a nanny in a job where all 3 children are at school all day. The parents have very full on jobs and it would be very difficult for them to cover sick days, teacher strikes etc. I've been with them for 10 years. I also go along to sports days, assemblies, plays etc if the parents can't get there.

While the children are at school I have my 'nanny duties' that tend to take around 2 - 3 hours each morning (sometimes less). I do all the children's washing and ironing - including weekly bed linen change. I batch cook for the freezer each week. I try to keep their bedrooms organised. I sort and take old toys and clothes to the charity shop. Keep the coat and shoe cupboard organised. I don't do housework as such but am happy to empty the dishwasher, empty and clean out the bins and I have a quick hoover round daily.

After they are done I shop/exercise/meet a friend for lunch. I always have my phone on me and am never more than 20 mins away from school should I be needed. We have a fair amount of sick days between 3 children! (one with sn) and I home tutored throughout lock down.

The parents appreciate having reliable childcare and I appreciate the fact that I get some free time whilst still being paid so am always happy to be flexible and help where I can, but am very glad I wasn't asked to take on housework for the parents. I have my own house to clean and as also mentioned before, what happens when the children are home sick or in the holidays? Does housework just not get done or is nanny expected to try and fit it in alongside caring for the children?

I would be telling her that the role will change and you will be expecting someone to be available for any sickness during the day but also housekeeping work will be expected when the children are at school during the term time. It sounds like she will refuse, so you can make her redundant and pay her accordingly. Then you can advertise for someone who is agreeable to what you are looking for (although ideally you won’t need to because your nanny will be agreeable), and get an ad hoc cleaner in during the school holidays.