Is this extortionate for a nanny?

[planningaparty86]

We are north west based. My nanny charges £15ph net, with tax and NI etc that equates to just under £19 ph. So an 8-6day is nearly £200.

She's great with the kids in terms of activities and taking them out although I must admit I've been underwhelmed with the food - pizza for lunch is on the menu very often. She's also very pernickety in terms of mileage. If she drives 1 mile to the local park, it goes on the "extras" list.

I also kinda expect that for that price she would be doing lots of jobs around the house for me. She tends to fold away my washing but that is it.

She has 2 children under 5 to care for atm during summer hols, after September it'll mainly be just the 2 year old. Putting the 2yo in nursery would be £60 (including all good) a day whereas the nanny will be £160-200. Plus food, plus whatever she spends on days out, plus mileage.

Struggling to see the value I am getting here and thinking that she is extortionately expensive especially for this part of the world.

Any views?!

I found it way easier to have a nanny, even part time, than when we moved DC to full time preschool. For the cost, our nanny was $34/hour for two kids with taxes on top, so closer to $40/hour. She did kid related tidying, did lunches for kids etc but we didn’t expect her to do any jobs around the house. Watching the kids was her job and she was fab. Huge benefit was kids never got sick. Not one time in 3 years. Compared to this fall which was one long cold, ending in pneumonia after 4 months for us!

Nanny meant no pick up or drop off, no sickness etc.

On the subject of pizza, there is a difference between a nanny making pizza dough with her charges and putting fresh veg on to it and chucking a frozen pizza in the oven.

If it is the former - no problem, if it is the latter stop putting pizza in the freezer.

A nursery will always be cheaper than a nanny because there are several children to one adult. Also I don't know if many nurseries have visits to parks.

I wouldn't look at just the cost in £ but the value to your child(ren) and that is down to each individual family, even down to the child.

I think you've really got to start by working out what suits best for your family and realise that either way, unless you find someone to work 7am-7pm, getting your children up and dressed and bathing them and putting them to bed, is for the most part, under your parental remit. It's also hard to understand why you aren't involved in their week day diet, by informing your nanny what your children should be eating, what they shouldn't be eating and then shopping accordingly and checking that your instructions are followed.

It's fortunate to be in a position where you can afford the type of childcare that works best for you. The social environment of a nursery where cover is usually 51 weeks a year regardless if your child's key worker is away, but not if your children are ill themselves. Or do you want a one to one relationship in your own home? If so, perhaps you just don't have the person who's the best fit for you?

For comparison, in the south, nursery with core hours of 8-6 is £93 a day for up to 3s and £83 over 3. This covers everything including formula, nappies, lots of excellent food prepared on site by a dedicated cook and all the activities and any trips out. My very occasional self employed gardener will come for £20 per hour and we provide all the tools and equipment. The elements of trust, responsibility and care involved have no comparison though.