TEACHERS & other term time employed, please could you tell me...

[Purplemoon]

esp. if you have a largish family and consequently children at several different schools (3). What is your chosen method of childcare:
Breakfast /afterschool clubs?
Childminder?
Nanny?
Au Pair?

I am very confused by what I should do for the best - economically I believe the school clubs will work out cheapest over the academic year and presently I need only morning care as DH is around for pick ups etc.
Would go for a CM but was confused as to how that would work out in terms of school hols and getting all my kids to school.

I'd be very interested to hear what others do in a similar situation? Or from childcarers who look after LOs from families in this position.

TIA

Wasn't sure whether I should really put this in th eback to work list ?

Whats you situation re: schools and ages of your lo's then?

Well, 4 LOs 1 in infants, 2 in junior and 1 at high school.
There are breakfast clubs in the schools but I have had to move them especially and am wondering if I have done the right thing, but felt it was my only option financially. Especially as new schools all walking distance except high school.IYSWIM (sorry if this is confusing, I think I'm confusing myself!)

...but Maureen you can't offer cos you don't CM anynore

(I have NC due to another thread but we have met before )

Well, in light of the fact that no-one else has answered you, I guess you'll have to take what you're given missy! Am I being particularly thick, but what does NC mean? Confused!

I would pick after school clubs wherever possible. They offer cheap and flexible care and my son loves his after school club.

My elder two are at senior school and sort themselves out - they generally arrive home from school at around 5pm.

My younger 3 are looked after by a live-in aupair. Next year, DC#3 will be at my school, so she won't need childcare. We don't have breakfast and afterschool care at the DDs' primary school this year, but they may introduce something next year, which will give us the option of an childminder insetad of aupair. I suspect the aupair will work out cheaper though.

(Sorry, maybe I just made up that acronym? NC = Namechange Mo!)

The flexibility and price of the before/ after school club was what I thought RT, thanks.
Thanks ST, that's interesting how you do it all. Wasn't sure how an au pair would work for as really only needed very early morning care (7- school drop off) and not much else and have no space for live-in. Wasn't sure I could find many people prepared to do so few hours, esp with it being only term time.

OMG, sorry about my dreadful typing/ sentence structure in that last post... I should have reread before I posted!!!!

Does your school offer a breakfast club, Purplemoon, from the time that you want. If so, this is probably the easiest form of childcare for you.

The one thing that holds me back from losing my aupair is what to do with sick DCs. My youngest has asthma and she has quite a few days off - not all of them essential, but given that she is only in Year 1, I think days off when she is wheezy is a reasonable decision.

I have the option of moving all of my DDs to my school - it is a 3-18 - but can't really afford it unless there were no other options.

Aaah you see the sick DC thing really does worry me.
The school I have just moved mine to does have care from the time I need ( I think- what time do you get leave in the morning just out of interest?) but like you say , I don't know what I will do in instances of illness, short of calling in fairly local GPs which we are fortunate to have.

I leave at 7.30 (or try to) for an 8.30 start. I have a 10 minute commute, and like to have time to prepare in the morning.

My DDs leave for school at 8.30.

My DH can help out with emergency childcare if he is not travelling, and I do have some friends that I can call on. But I wouldn't want to plan for this to be the norm.

The school Breakfast club starts at 7.45 so am hoping that will be ok

I guess if it doesn't work out that is when I will need to reinvestigate alternative options, do you think there would be anyone likely to want to cover such few hours? Do you also have to pay CM/ au pair's in the school holidays?

Sorry, I am very naive in such matters

You don't have to pay aupairs in the long holidays. Childminders work in two types of contract - one where you pay in full for the holidays, and one where you pay a slightly higher rate termtime and then a small retainer in the holidays.

You may be able to find a childminder who is happy to lose you in the holidays and pick up holiday work from another family.

In theory, there should be families looking for holiday childcare, so if somehow you could do a share with them, it would work out perfectly.

Oh, OK! It seems you've been mostly sorted. Iwould just say though, in your OP, you mentioned CM's and what to do about term time only. They will probably charge a fee during the holidays to keep your place open for you, so financially, that'snot a good option for you.

Strangely, I need childcare all of a sudden! DD has an inset day at the end of April and I haven't a clue who's going to watch her, whilst I'm at work!

Thank ST

LOL Maureen! Can you just arrange a play date?

I think I'll send her next door! I've minded her kids on mates rates for 5 years, so its payback, I think!

Definitely!

Maybe a local student would be a possibility? I'm a student at the moment and do before/after school for teacher's children, 7-9am and 3-5pm. The family lives just down the road from me so the early start isn't too difficult, and I like to have the holidays free.

I have never had a childminder charge me for the school holidays. That is in 12 years, and 3 different minders.