Ad Hoc child minding hours - is there such a thing?

[dizzydixies]

can I ask a quick question please?

The reason being my dh and I work shifts. We used to work opposite shifts to manage the childcare but the shifts have been changed for Dh and not for me so they are no longer compatible.

I am currently on matty leave having had DD3 and am trying to make it last as long as possible by going unpaid until August 08. This would get DD1 into primary 2 and DD2 should get her nursery funding from Aug.

When I start back in Aug we'll need some childcare help (we have NO family nearby at all) and had been using a nursery for this. I have agreed with nursery to allow me an ad-hoc facility whilst off on matty as they have a lot of money in our vouchers at the moment but as far as I can understand this arrangement is only until the vouchers run out and then I would have to take a permanent place for DD2 and DD3. I hardly use the vouchers but DD2 likes the nursery and every now and then its nice to have a morning to spend with DD3/housework/shop etc

We don't need help 5 mornings a week and can't afford to keep a slot for DD2 and DD3 but thats what the nursery would want us to take up. The times at which we need help change from week to week due to the shift patterns so one week we could need help 3 mornings and the next week nothing at all etc

will get to the point now are there childminders out there who work part time and would do an ad-hoc thing? It could be arranged in advance so that slots could be booked and confirmed - I wouldn't be mucking people about with a couple of days notice etc unless it was to ask for additional hours - not a reduction (I understand that once agreed on minimum amount for month then that would be adheered to if that makes sense?)

there is a lovely childminder in this area who I would be delighted to have looking after the kids but I don't want to even ask her to consider this is if it such an unheard of thing to do?

I realise I would probably have to step aside if she got permanent mindees? then again maybe she'd like working full time as she has 2 kids of her own, only one of whom would be in school by them?

aarrgghhh, anyone?!?

bump

(laughing at me opening this with 'can I ask a quick question?!?')

Haven't read it all but skimmed through. Yes it is possible. You mind find it a little bit harder to find one that can fit in with you but people certainly do it. I would do it, for example (I am a CM) but somebody who is full up and has no trouble filling vacancies can be more fussy iyswim?

dizzy, I do ad short term/temporary only but I am not sure how many other cms don't have any permenant mindees.

But I can't be the only one who does this!

There are people yes, but not many, I personally don't.

I would suggest you contact your local CHIS and ask for details of the local development officer for your area and they could maybe mass email all the CM on your behalf and save you time and effort?

I regularly get emails from the DO for this type of thing.

DO you use your local netmums at all? I use the childcare board a lot and you can post a "looking for childcare" add and CM can contact you?

oh great ideas ladies thank you

tbh I live in a small town or large village kind of place and the CM around here are very tight and know everything about each other so am pretty sure the minute I ask one of them if its the done thing or not then I'll either be told no or hear about someone who would consider it

I didn't know if it was heard of tbh, I figured that ther emust be some CM who would like working part time but knowing exactly when they would have mindees

quick bump for daytime ladies - any further thoughts

Where are you dizzy? Maybe someone round here can help you? I would thought this is very possible..

north east fife!

Bump, anyone in Fife?

crace not to worry, I know a few of the childminders round here and they're lovely

I just didn't want to be asking of something completely unheard of so thought I'd check out on here whether or not I was being cheeky in considering it at all

thank you though

Not cheeky at all - we all have different circumstances, just taken and as and when over 5 myself because I have a lot going on.

Hope you find someone really good

thank you I think because DD3 is apparently going to be the last I'm being overly precious about it all