Need advice from you experienced ladies re childcare options

[Superchilled]

First time posting on Mumsnet so go easy on me! I'm returning to work next Feb when my DD is almost 1 year old, and need some advice about childcare options. Because of the distance between my home and work (my kind of work is only possible in Central London and I can't afford to live any nearer to work!), I will need childcare between 7.30am and 7pm. Will childminders consider these hours (I've phoned a few recommended ones and none of them will do later than a 6pm pick-up)? What about nurseries? Or will I need a nanny? If I do, what kind of salary should I be thinking of? We're not rich at all so can't afford the £35k gross that some nanny agencies seem to think I'll need to pay, but I can give use of my car during the day, and will be happy to take on a newly qualified nanny (not sure how you go about finding one, though).

I am a Childminder and I would consider those hours. You might have to pay a slightly higher rate before 8am and after 6pm but that depends on the Childminder. Where abouts are you, maybe someone on here can help?

I live in East Horsley in Surrey - I'd love it if I could find a childminder, because I'd prefer DD to be in a group situation rather than cared for on her own and nursery seems like a complete no-no as far as hours are concerned.

Have you tried www.childcarelink.gov.uk for local childminders - most of them put their hours on that site.
Another option is to visit nurseries in your area and enquire whether any of the nursery staff would be interested in working either end of their nursery shift (ie. they come to your house at 7.30 and take baby to nursery for the day, then at 6pm they bring baby home and take care of her until you are back) - I've known a couple of people who have arranged this sort of thing.
Nannies are expensive, but will cover those hours - we employed a nanny with her own child (paid about 80% of the going rate) at one point, and we have also nanny-shared (try www.thenannysharers.co.uk and umm.. I think www.sharingcare.co.uk) when nanny is employed between 2 families..ideal if you can find someone else either with school age children or a baby same age as yours to share with.
The other option is to try to do shifts with your partner/husband..ie. one of you does the morning nursery drop off and then works late, the other goes to work early and leaves early to do the nursery pick up...that is the arrangement I have at the moment but depends on flexible employers.

Great suggestions, ladies - thanks so much for the help!

I am a childminder and I do those hours, mainly because where I live most people work in London and they need to be on the train by 7.30am!

Maybe there is someone on here who will be able to help you?

Good luck looking

£35k gross seems rather high. I would have thought that you could get someone live-out, closer to £25k gross. A childminder would I expect be cheaper, so perhaps see if there is anything you can do about the hours or looking for a childminder who would do those hours.

I thought £35K gross was a bit steep!!! £25k is much more in line with what I thought we would have to pay. Many thanks again for the help - newbie is eternally grateful!

Can you manage live-in? If so you could either try a live in nanny or an au pair/childminder combination. So you could say do the drop off but then the aupair could pick her up and take her home and bathe her and get her ready for bed by the time you get home?

Live-in sadly not an option - we're filled to the rafters in our rather tiny house already and I'm not sure that a nanny/au-pair would appreciate sleeping in the kitchen!!! I thought you couldn't leave an au-pair alone with an under-3?

Live-in sadly not an option - we're filled to the rafters in our rather tiny house already and I'm not sure that a nanny/au-pair would appreciate sleeping in the kitchen!!! I thought you couldn't leave an au-pair alone with an under-3?

Depends on the au pair. There are no hard and fast rules governing who can or can not be employed by you to look after your children. I could hire the post man as a nanny if I wanted to.

But, genreally speaking, no , I wouldn't employ a 17 year old who had not childcare experience to have sole charge of a young baby. However, a nursery run is probably doable for someone who is say 19 and done loads of babysitting, worked in a nursery, etc. but wants to come to England for a year off of her studies.

Anyway, live-in is out so it's a moot point.