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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Nannies: market rates (bit controversial)

878 replies

Tanzie · 10/04/2005 19:35

Having read on another thread ("Paying Nannies when sick") gripes from UK nannies about jobs going to girls from accession countries who will work for less, (and do more in the way of housework), is this not just pushing the market rate down for qualified/experienced nannies?

I am not in UK, but I would look at it as providing more affordable childcare, provided you can find someone trustworthy and reliable. I lived in UK briefly about 4 years ago and a nanny friend of mine was earning GBP 25,000 and got a flat thrown in with it. This is more than I was earning at the time and could never have afforded this sort of money for someone to look after my children.

I am not suggesting slave labour from Central European girls, or paying them an au pair's "pocket money" for what is essentially a nanny job, but paying them a reasonable wage and providing free accommodation means that a lot of people, who could not afford a nanny or nursery fees, will probably be able to get back to work.

Of course, there will always be those who want a Norland nanny and can afford one, but it seems to me that your average Mum would welcome these Central Europeans with open arms...

I'll run and hide now...

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Ameriscot2005 · 12/04/2005 23:22

Stuff inaccurately portraying Mumsnetters

Gwenick · 12/04/2005 23:22

just to go back to the speaking english part..........does it REALLY matter? I mean in Zimbabwe it's very common for the 'maid' (of which most people in the 'average' salary bracket up can afford - so lots of people) to also have much of the responsibility for childcare during the day. Many times the maids are from poorer families and often speak little or even NO english at all........yet they are always FABULOUS with the kids. Kids are like 'magnets' and pick things up so quickly so having someone speaking to them in a foreign language doesn't really bother them that much, and they often pick up the language too.........surely if they pronounce things wrong they'll be correct by mum and dad in the evening or weekend, or even better once they start school??

ootslooJ · 12/04/2005 23:22

do they not show it as 'post deleted' is it just whipped away?

ScotsNanny · 12/04/2005 23:23

I removed my own post.

I decided I dindnt like what I wrote very much.

But it was intresting that you mums didnt like be knocked down any more than we do!!

NOW CAN WE PLEASE PUT A STOP TO THE RUBBISH, AND WORK TOGETHER!!!

skeptic · 12/04/2005 23:23

It's as if it never happened, Oot.

skeptic · 12/04/2005 23:24

That's sweet, Scotsnanny. Didn't you come to this board as brazen troll?

Gwenick · 12/04/2005 23:25

I don't recall anyone knocking down nannies - we purely wanted to know what makes Engish nannies so much better than Euronannies.

And for what it's worth it doesn't really sound very good does it - a nanny knocking down parents - their own bosses effectively! How would YOUR bosses feel if they knew you'd said such things about parents????

lockets · 12/04/2005 23:25

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ootslooJ · 12/04/2005 23:26

boy, am I glad I was a SAHM!

lockets · 12/04/2005 23:27

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ScotsNanny · 12/04/2005 23:27

Hi Skeptic, I was just wondering, when I offer the hand of peace, why you call me a Brazen Troll? Is that not a bit immiture?

skeptic · 12/04/2005 23:30

Do you know what a troll is, Scotsnanny? Weren't you called up on your nanny board to join this one and add weight to some lonely voices? Seems both troll-like and brazen to me.

kitschnanny · 12/04/2005 23:30

Ameriscot... was the post about the british nanny explaining why she's worth that much, aimed at me? If it was, I didn't mean that at all... just meant that my BOSSES think I'm worth that much, can afford it, and have no doubt that they'd have employed a non - british nanny for the same, if the person they liked best happened to be non - british! I'm just lucky they liked me best :O

Beetroot · 12/04/2005 23:30

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skeptic · 12/04/2005 23:30

Do you know what a troll is, Scotsnanny? Weren't you called up on your nanny board to join this one and add weight to some lonely voices? Seems both troll-like and brazen to me.

ScotsNanny · 12/04/2005 23:30

It has nothing to do with biting the hand, it has to do with manners, some thing thats seams to have be lost by just about everybody on this thread.

ScotsNanny · 12/04/2005 23:30

It has nothing to do with biting the hand, it is to do with manners, some thing thats seams to have be lost by just about everybody on this thread.

ScotsNanny · 12/04/2005 23:30

It has nothing to do with biting the hand, it has to do with manners, some thing thats seams to have be lost by just about everybody on this thread.

Gwenick · 12/04/2005 23:30

perhaps - Scotsnanny - because it can be a bit difficult to believe someone is genuinely 'offering the hand of peace' when minutes before had posted

"Well when some of those mums read this thread................if you dont listen to any of us, then no wonder some of you have a screwed up family life!" "

Beetroot · 12/04/2005 23:30

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Gwenick · 12/04/2005 23:31

oh and then of course DELETES the 'offending' post so it appears they'd done nothing wrong

LCM · 12/04/2005 23:31

"what IS a lazy day????? None round here with my 2 pre-schoolers LOL"

I didnt mean lazy day to sound disrespectful, I just mean that as a SAHM you can choose to get dressed late, spend all day in the house, let the kids play by themselves or watch tv for a bit while you get on with a few jobs or even do something for yourself. If kids take a nap you can have a bath or a nap yourself. As a nanny you are being paid to work so you cant do things like that, well I dont anyway. I feel like I am being paid to work so i work, my charges are too old for naps but if they are occupied for a while without needing me (not that it happens very often) I feel I should be doing something like hanging up their clean clothes or emptying washing machine or tidying playroom or planning an activity for later

ootslooJ · 12/04/2005 23:31

seems to be an echo in here ....

ScotsNanny · 12/04/2005 23:34

Yes, I was asked to pop on here tonight, because I had been on here about 2 nights ago when this all kicked off.
I was fine until my NJ name had been dragged in tonights disscussion, when I asked about it, then the mud started flying from both this board and ME! I admit that.

I still dont see what is so BRAZEN TROLLISH about that.

Gwenick · 12/04/2005 23:35

I cant' 'not get dressed' until later - often have parcels delivered here for DH's business, and living on the busy road we do (right next to a school) don't fancy opening the door wearing my dressing gown everymorning. And strangely enough when my 2 DS's ARE occupied together it's a rare opportunity to get some housework done - so I HAVE to do it!

And on a lighter note don't think it would be adviseable to leave my 16 1/2 month old to play on his own for a bit - have to take him everywhere I go unless I want the house compltely trashed .