Nanny: term-time only or restricted holidays?

[SE13Mummy]

We're looking for a nanny to share with another family (Mon-Weds) and are wondering about the above - which seems fairer?

Option 1: employ a nanny term-time only thus giving him/her 13 weeks off a year (some of which would be paid holiday) during which time s/he could top up his/her salary by working elsewhere.

Option 2: employ a nanny all year round but include a clause in the contract that states all holiday must be taken during school holidays (of employers' schools).

Option 1 would command a higher annual salary to take account of the term-time only element.

Any thoughts or experiences would be welcome - we'ew new to this!

can i just ask... if the nanny needed a couple of odd says holiday during term time (maybe for a wedding or similar occasion where she can not control the date etc) would you allow it?

if not you may find t hard to find anyone.

Otherwise there are a few term time only nannies and you may find it would suit a nanny whose own children are at school and she can spend holidays with them, Would you be open to that idea?

I imagine that if the nanny had a wedding/funeral to go to that would count as compassionate leave which I think is quite different from holiday per se.

We're teachers so have no flexibility over when we take our holidays which is why we need someone who can commit to being around during school terms - we wouldn't be able to book a week off school if a nanny wanted a term-time holiday and don't have family locally who could step in.

I have restricted holidays as a clause in my contract. I cannot for example have any time off in the school holidays which can be a pain as my mum is a teacher so it means I never get to see her but I knew this when I signed it. If you are upfront from the beginning then I see no problems per se. My boss was upfront from our first meeting but on her two weeks choice of my holiday she gave me half term week which she didn't have to do but knew I would like it and I really did appreciate it. Some nannies will do restricted holidays, others won't. There may have to be a bit of give and take on both sides

personally i would prefer option 1 and then would temp else where - i assume the nanny would be getting 4weeks paid holiday so really only needs to find 9weeks of work to cover her salary iyswim

there is no way i would agree to take holidays in school holidays only

Nanny would be given 4 weeks holiday (plus bank holidays) whichever option s/he chose.

It seems as though the main issue may be that we aren't really in a position to 'give and take' as Tavvy suggests. I suppose I was hoping that people would reply with reports of lots of nannies who work term-time only and like doing so as it gives them a chance to supplement their income.

Oh well, back to the drawing board...

here may be nannies who are happy to do this, just not fussy ickle old me

never say never - dont give up hope yet

try advertising on netmums and see what response you get

I wouldn't give up on this. I have an offer of a FT term-time only job at the moment (which I probably won't take but there you go) and one of the "issues" is finding a term-time only nanny who meets my ludicrously high expectations. I have chatted to some nannies in the park about my anxieties and they all say they think it would be easy to find someone who only wanted term time work.

A term time only contract is perfectly acceptable you pay them for x amount of weeks per year plus work out their annual leave entitlement for those hrs worked and then this is added to annual salary. This is best added up and then divided into 12 equal monthly payments and then nanny is paid same throughout year no matter what hrs are worked. (annual salary is best done sept-sept - a school year rather than a finacial year where sometimes easter can fall twice messing up salary calculations!)

so basically nanny has 13wks off per year her annual leave is taken within these 13wks and not in term time as is such paid in addition to salary hope that makes sense.

Thank you eastmidlandsnightnanny, that's what we hope to do but as we're having no luck recruiting (we're using Simply Childcare & various Netmums boards) I was beginning to think that what we're offering just isn't appealing.

I had a job like this. My employers offer to pay the difference in flights price (i wanted to go abroad to see my family and the flights cost more during school holidays). Perhaps you could offer this?

Also, dont forget so many families want the opposite - childcare for school holidays. If you tell other parents at school about your situation i ' m sure your nanny will have many offers if she wishes to work during those weeks.

I wouldn't have been averse to this arrangement either as long as you made it clear that I wasn't losing out on 13 weeks salary as it were. As it is temp work is quite easy to find in school holidays!

Maybe all is not lost then...

The idea of paying the difference in flight prices is a lovely one but we're not in a position to offer that kind of incentive - our own holidays involve camping on very basic campsites in the UK.

If we went for option 1 and employed someone term-time only they would 'lose out' on 9 weeks salary but we'd anticipate them being able to pick something else up and would definitely do our best to help them find employment during the holidays if they wanted it.

I'm thinking we need an Antipodean nanny who'd like to go home for a long period of time once a year. Hmm...

Problem is antipodeans often want to go Christmas (for summer) which wouldn't suit you!

Canadian?

And the flights home to Aus and NZ triple over Chrstmas and the summer.
I have it in my contract that I can only take holidays when te family do. It is annoying but it is what I signed up for.

Have you tried the nanny agency www.kidsmatter.uk.com they are nationwide so may have more luck.

I would really think this would suit a nanny with own school age child if you were happy for them to bring own child before and after school obv if the childs school is the same or near to your own childrens.

Are there any cheap/affordable nannies who specialise in recruiting Canadians?! I had somehow overlooked the possiblity of the Antipodean nannies wanting to be home for summer. Perhaps the role would appeal to an Antipodean who wants to tour Europe in the summer...

I'll have a look at kidsmatter in a while, thanks for the tip!

Should have said, "Are there any cheap/affordable nanny agencies who specialise in recruiting Canadians?!"

Whoops.

If you are looking for someone from Canada, you need to learn about the Youth Mobility Scheme. Also keep in mind that some Canadians speak French, not English.
No idea on agencies.

I'm not specifically looking for a Canadian, it just seems as though a Canadian nanny may find our needs fit more closely with when s/he would like an extended period of time off work.

To be honest I'd be happy with a nanny from Mars if my children were happy in his/her care (and if s/he was Ofsted registered)!

We have found a nanny to work 2 days a week from January on a term time only basis. I posted on netmums and had quite a bit of interest.

She seems to be quite happy with the term time arrangement as she plans to do some occasional work with the family she has recently left due to youngest starting school during the holidays as well as enjoy a few extra days off. She has another job for the other 3 days which is all year round.

She did want to have 2 weeks of her own choosing for holiday (fair enough really) which I will have to cover with family. We have agreed that she will have a 41 week contract (working 37 weeks plus 4 week al)

Good luck with finding someone.

Kate

Thanks kla73. We've advertised on Netmums, Simply Childcare and a couple of other sites and have had a bit of interest but are beginning to lose hope.

We'd really struggle to offer the nanny flexibility to choose a couple of weeks holiday during the school terms as we don't have family locally and can't very well take 2 babies and a toddler into school with us!