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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Fabulous nanny looking for work in North London - Mary Poppins has got nothing on me !

21 replies

marypoppins2 · 30/06/2008 20:20

Hi there,
My name is Lisa and I'm a fully qualified professional nanny. I have 14 years experience working with children from newborn to 9 years. I have a Btec national diploma in nursery nursing, St John's first aid and I'm SureStart registered. I have a clean driving licence, c.v and brilliant checkable references. I always like to stay as long as possible with a family to watch the children I look after learn and grow and with my past families I've stayed for 5 years and 7 years.
I have a very professional approach to my job which is important as you have to feel comfortable leaving your children with me and past employers have credited me with my level headedness and the ability to cope with any situation.
I'm lots of fun, firm but fair and have lots of energy for trips out on sunny days and a head full of things to do on wet rainy days.
I'm looking for work in the following areas Muswell Hill, Finchley, Crouch End, Highgate but other areas will be considered. I'm looking for £450 a week nett with tax and NI paid on top.
Please email me on [email protected] if you are interested.
My current job will be coming to an end in August so I'm looking for something to start in September.
Look forward to hearing from you.

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Original poster

marypoppins2 · 10/04/2009 15:55

Hi there,
Just updating this advert. I'm available from now if anyone is interested.

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nanny1974 · 10/04/2009 19:16

Im looking for work in north west London.Im finding a lot o theyf jobs are full-time.Try tinies. good luck

MuffinBaker · 10/04/2009 19:30

what have you been doing since sept?

Original poster

marypoppins2 · 10/04/2009 20:13

forgot i posted the original message so was working up to now. just thought i'd add on new information instead of changing whole advert.
i'm looking for full time in north london not so much north west london but nothing suitable as yet.
good luck to you too, i know so many nannies who are out of work at the moment.

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ScottishThistle · 11/04/2009 13:30

Good luck, I'm also job seeking and know how stressful it all is.

Not so sure stating salary expected is such a great idea in your ad. May put off people who would have got in touch, you may miss out on a great job simply because they could afford £30 less than you are asking for.

A friend of mine had to go down £50pwn after job searching for 5mths. We all know what we're worth but I'm afraid there are a lot of girls out there willing to work (because they need to) for less.

Original poster

marypoppins2 · 11/04/2009 22:52

thanks for advice but i need to make at least that to pay my bills each month, so there's no point spending 2 hours at a great interview only for it to go pear shaped when you hear the mum only wants to pay you £250 a week. Believe me I've seen the adverts on Gumtree.
If all else fails I'll just have to work in town

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ScottishThistle · 11/04/2009 23:26

Good luck! How many agencies are you with?

I'm off to Moscow next week for an interview. There aren't any great positions in London @ the moment unless you're willing to do shared charge!?!

Original poster

marypoppins2 · 12/04/2009 12:43

Found a few with the 7 agencies I've registered with which might be ok but need further investigating. Would have taken an overseas job when I was younger but now I have my own place and I'm settled so that's out. Just get fed up with the agencies not doing their job. Considering they work on commission they should be keeping you updated all the time but I find I'm the one that has to keep calling them and chasing them, and reminding them of jobs they are supposed to be setting me up for.
Good luck in Moscow.

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ScottishThistle · 12/04/2009 23:13

Best of luck!

Didn't think I'd be considering going overseas again @ my age but the money is too good to refuse. Quite excited about the interview, I'll be spending 2 days with the English Nanny I'd be rotating with every 5 days.

Mamulik · 13/04/2009 12:13

If you so good why dont you work at nursery ?

MuffinBaker · 13/04/2009 12:15

TBH if I was looking for a nanny your ad here would put me right off.

ScottishThistle · 13/04/2009 13:14

Mamulik, you will find that many professional Nannies would never work in a nursery and the salary is very unlikely to be anywhere near £450pwn!

Original poster

marypoppins2 · 13/04/2009 17:04

I agree with you ScottishThistle that there is a world of difference between nannying and working in a nursery, Mamulik obviously doesn't realise that. To work at least a 55 hour week and have to work around parents long hours you should be well paid. Nurseries close their doors around 6 o clock and have no leeway for parents running late. At least if you have a nanny you know she's there till you get home.
To MuffinBaker you are intitled to your opinion but when you've been nannying for as long as I have you work out what works and what doesn't. Being totally upfront about expectations and money is always best and many a good interview has been wasted by haggling over money at the end after 2 hours of agreeing on everything else. If you use an agency then this is their approach too. Before sending a nanny to a job interview or sending c.v's to parents they look at the salary expectations and 2 of the agencies I've signed with have had to talk parents through how much they should be paying as opposed what they had in mind.
If you work out the hourly rate it comes to less than £8.50 an hour based on my expected £450 a week. If you go through an agency they advise their nannies to charge £9/£10 an hour which works out more than I ask for a
non agency interview.
This is based on working in London so maybe where you live MuffinBaker child care is cheaper.

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MuffinBaker · 13/04/2009 17:08

It isn't your post about money that puts me off.

I wouldn't have a clue about child care costs as I look after my children myself.

willowthewispa · 13/04/2009 19:27

MuffinBaker, how strange to come on this thread just to be negative (and vague)

FWIW I think you sound great marypoppins!

Mamulik - actually, it tends to be the other way round, the good nursery nurses end up being nannies! Responsibility, autonomy and pay are much higher for nannies.

MuffinBaker · 13/04/2009 19:29

not at all, was answering her point.

Julesnobrain · 13/04/2009 20:58

Marypoppins2. you sound great. As a parent I liked your direct and practical approach and in particular your commentary about sunny and rainy days. I have no problem with your stating upfront what your salary expectation is. In these credit crunch times if you wanted to soften it a little you could say (neg after the figure) and then perhaps trade £ for hours etc. What would put me off is your original ad said Sept and now your available now.. what happened.?? Am not looking for a nanny by the way but thought you might appreciate the feedback. Good luck with your search I am sure you'll get snapped up soon.

Original poster

marypoppins2 · 13/04/2009 21:15

I originally posted the ad last year when I was leaving one job and looking for one starting September.
I found a job and forgot all about the ad so when I discovered it again I just updated it as I've just left and I'm looking for a new job now.
Thanks for your support Julesnobrain especially as you're a mum,no disrespect. I get fed up with negative feedback on something that most parents are new to and nannies know more about. After all you are employing us for our experience and with most cases we've had some whopper of bad interviews and replying to job ads.
For anyone still unsure where I'm coming from check out some of the jobs on Gumtree where mothers are looking for a 55 hour week with 3 kids for £250.

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mumnannymum · 13/04/2009 21:26

Couldn't agree with you more Marypoppins2 about how the agencies operate. So glad it is not just me. I have been a nanny for many years and have found the agencies not very positive or even helpful this time. They advertise jobs and even though it is excactly what I have said I am after I never hear from them. Would it not be easier for them to actually think about nannies on their books and call them than go through all the replies from their advertising? Sorry so frustrating!!!!! I am also looking for work to start asap. I have great referneces. Am Ofsted registered so police check and first aid. and just want a lovely family to work for!!!!!:-)

nbee84 · 13/04/2009 21:32

Hi mp2 -

I think what jules is asking - and what I've wondered too - is why you were in a job for such a short time? (Sept to now -only 8 months) when your original add clearly states that you like to stay in jobs as long as possible, it sort of contradicts itself as you are already looking again.

Not meant to be a criticism by the way (as I know jobs can finish for all sorts of reasons and also you could have been doing a temp job) just pointing out what I, and others by the sound of it, have been wondering.

Original poster

marypoppins2 · 13/04/2009 23:04

Oh sorry about confusion, thought she was just commenting on way the advert is laid out. The job I was in before September, the father was made redundant and they couldn't afford me. Then the job I started in September the mum has just been made redundant so again child care is the first thing to go.
It's such a shame as with my other jobs I've stayed years but I guess it's a sign of the times with people being laid off in all areas of work.
I'm hoping next time that it will be another long job as that's best for me, the family and children but I suppose now days you can never tell.

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