Primary school wraparound

[kva]

Hi moms, we just found out that our lovely nanny thinks about retiring next year (when our girl starts reception).

The initial plan was that she would help with our daughter 2-3 working days a week by picking her up after school, take her to activities or a walk in a park or a soft play until 5.30pm. We also hoped that she would look after her during school holidays for about 6 weeks a year.

Ideally I would like to follow through with this plan, however I understand that it could be challenging to find someone with that level of flexibility. Do you think that's possible at all? If so, where would you search?

If that's not possible what everyone else is doing for the wraparound care?

Thank you.

I don’t really understand-your nanny is retiring from her job as a nanny but you want her to carry on working for you?

Or you mean she’s retiring and you want to find a different person who will pick your daughter up from school 2/3 days a week and work 2 hours a day for you in term time and then 6 weeks in the summer? I would imagine you will struggle to find someone to do those specific hours as presumably these need another income.

I’d have a look at a childminder to have her at their house after school and see if they will have availability on the 2/3 days you need. They might do summer holidays as well, though the ones near me don’t tend to. Or you could try holiday clubs? Most parents take a few weeks off and do a mixture of using holiday clubs, taking it in turns with other parents to double up on childcare or hoping grandparents might pitch in.

School breakfast and after school club and holiday clubs during holidays.

I had a choice of schools which were all rated Good and seemed nice so we just chose the one with the childcare option. Now 6 years on, they all offer them. DDs club runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm and costs about £20 a day. Holiday club is around £40 oper day but obviously it all depends where you live.

We use a holiday club in the school holidays - £30 a day.

We don't need wrap round but from what other parents use;
Before and after school club
Childminder
Out of school club (some nurseries do this)

School wraparound care is worth looking at as the previous poster said, though schools round her don’t offer any sort of holiday care.

The breakfast club is good-starts at 7.45. There’s not much in the way of after school club, though there are some good local childminders.

Look at local schools to see what they offer.

I think you're unlikely to find someone who wants to/can afford to work 6 hours a week in term time and then 30 hours a week in the holidays. Your only hope really would be a student (or maybe someone who is a TA or works in a school). No harm in advertising to see who pops up.

Otherwise, a childminder or after-school club. Or two different people one for the after-school bit and one for the holidays.

Thanks! Yes, the 2nd option.

Thinking about a childminder, the only issue is that we wanted the nanny to take DD to some local clubs we like, a CM would not be able to do that 😞

No, probably not.

To be fair, the nanny might well have refused working those hours as well, were she not retiring.

Unfortunately the local school have less resources, they said they should be able to keep her at after school care on some days, but not all of them...

Ah thank you. I understand my expectations are a bit unrealistic.

Did not think about 2 different people doing it though. This is a brilliant idea, will look into it!

There are specialist after school nanny companies - Koru Kids is one.

While I doubt they would do the holidays as well you could think of them as two separate issues if they don't want holiday hours and look for holiday clubs.

Not all holiday clubs take reception kids though so the first year can be tricky.

Wanting your child to go to clubs-activities after school is a nice idea but in practice she is likely to be knackered and just want to play with her toys either at an after school club/childminders or at home

Yeah, thought about it too, thank you.

you might find that your current nanny would be happy to do six weeks in the holidays or a couple of days a week.

@kva

Have you actually spoken to your Nanny?

she might be happy to continue to do some of what you need?

if I was working towards retirement anyway, I'd be happy to do some of the wrap around care & some of the holidays. We could discuss what we could make work between us. I would probably prefer to offer full time care spread over the various holidays or wrap around care of holiday clubs for the summer holidays etc.

id love to do something like what you need now, but unfortunately need a full time wage until im 67. ONLY 13 years to go 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

lots of people want what you want, unless a nanny can afford to work part time it's a non starter, but your nanny is talking about retiring, so it could be brilliant for you both!!

Unfortunately she already works part time for us and finds this quite intense. She is not sure she'd be able to carry on part-time for a few more years and it seems that she would be looking to retire fully within a year. Where are you based, please?

@kva

I'm in the SE, but as I said, I'm 13 years off retiring & can't afford to live on part time hours, unfortunately.

if it were me I'd keep talking to your existing nanny and replace bits of childcare as you can & just keep talking & reducing in a way that suits you both

best of luck!

Have you tried bubble app ? My friend uses and said it's been brilliant for her.