No idea where to look

[NicT7]

My little one will be going to nursery next year which is open 8-6 but I work the same hours. Where can I even start to look for someone who could do a drop off/pick up service? I’m based in SW London.

thanks!

Is there any flexibility with your hours ?
So you either start early and your partner does the drop off and you get away in time to collect, or the other way round ?

That's what a lot of parents do.

Unfortunately not as we both work in finance

So you need childcare 7-7? If so a nanny is your best bet, even if you find a nursery who will do that, which is unlikely that's a very very long day in childcare for a small child and I say that as someone whose DC has been in nursery from just over a year old

Why is your child going to an 8-6 nursery if the hours don't fit your schedule?

Childminder or nanny for the wraparound care/drop off and pick up, in addition to nursery?

Or skip nursery in favour of a nanny or childminder, hours tend to be more flexible which it sounds is what you might need.

Have you looked on Childcare website? www.childcare.co.uk/

My husband and I both work in finance, and both flex our hours. It’s possible in most roles.

7-7 childcare will be all their waking hours. You can’t put them in childcare that long.

Hi OP,
Start by asking other mums that have kids at the same nursery if they know anyone - or even the caregivers at the nursery. That way you'll get suggestions that have been tried and tested and aren't "randoms".
Found my amazing "wrap around" nanny the same way.
Are you in a WhatsApp group with the other mums at nursery? If so, post the question in there! Good luck

Thanks everyone, I have massive mum guilt already and she’s not going to nursery until next year. I’ll try to negotiate flexible hours with my company but they’re not known to be the most flexible x

It’s your right to request flex working. Both you and your partner need to request this though.

DH and I worked in similar industries and I went back full time after our eldest.

I WFH 1 day a week (pre covid so not as common then) I’d do both drop and pick up that day.

The other 4 days we alternated who did drop and who did pick up. It meant that the dropping parent could work 9 to whenever. The picking up parent would go to work early usually for 7:30 to allow them to leave at 4:30/5.

Try local childminders who may have them for the full day, some do 7.30-6.30 near me, they may be able to accommodate quiet naps which help get little one through better while young

I always say to parents why choose a type of setting that doesn't meet your needs your unlikely to find anyone who would drag out (especially in bad weather) for an hour's money. Did you look at childminders?

That’s an incredibly long day in nursery.
My DS goes to nursery approx 7.45 to 4.30 and when he gets home he is so over tired from being there all day. He really needs to decompress before bed.

I don’t see how it would be possible to get a baby home after 6.30, give them dinner, get them into bed, and then presumably they’d have to be up again at about 6.30am the next day?

I think you both need to ask for flexibility. And perhaps a nanny would be better so at least the baby will be at home.

You could try looking for a nanny share if a nanny is too expensive. Or a childminder. It's a very long week at nursery and the drop-off/pick-up issue will be a nightmare.

You need a nanny really

Those hours with no flex you need a nanny.

But if one of you can drop off and the other pick up it can work.

However if you’re in SW London and dependent on trains out of Waterloo then a nanny is more flexible (when the trains inevitably go wrong)