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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

Emergancy Evening Childcare Help

26 replies

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 12:46

Hi everyone

I'm having a struggle right now.

My partner is due to be served with an injuction and occupation order on Monday. AFter this time I will not be able to rely on him for childcare in the evenings when I work.

I don't think I am going to get the order unless I have suitable childcare in place, or leave my job. Currently I am being made redundant. If I leave my job I will lose a large redundancy payout that I am relying on to help me start my new life away from my partner.

I don't have any friends I can ask to take on this - it's 5 evenings a week for around 3 or four weeks, and will include putting my son to bed.

I've tried gumtree, sitters (left a message, hope they will get back to me but it seems expensive) babysitters listed in the yellow pages.

Is there anywhere I haven't thought of? Where do you find emergancy childcare?

OP posts:

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Lindy · 17/04/2010 12:51

Are there any college students locally who might be able to help you? Try phoning the local college/university.

Ask you friends/work colleagues if they know anyone (ie: not expecting them to do it) but it sounds a good job for someone - it would fit in with childcare if someone had a partner at home to look after their own children.

crace · 17/04/2010 13:11

Where are you, maybe someone on here can help?

I am very sorry to hear things are so difficult for you, wish you well with your new life.

cookielove · 17/04/2010 13:13

Yes where are you if your in my area i may be able to help, and i am sure lots of others would also be willing?

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 13:31

I am in Hemel Hempstead.

I've just heard back from Sitters and I'm looking at 116 pounds per week, but coupled with the 15 pound a month charge and the booking fee I think that might be stretching things a tad

They also can't guarentee me childcare for five days in a row. Nightmare continues.

OP posts:

ilovemydogandmrobama · 17/04/2010 13:37

Try your local council. There is a family services section where all child minders etc are registered and those who have vacancies. Try speaking with nursery school/primary school? Sometimes either a teacher or assistant is happy to do a few hours, or may know someone.

cookielove · 17/04/2010 13:52

What hours are you looking for?

I'm also in Herts

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 13:56

I need 6-9 every evening for a week.

The alternative is that my son goes and stays with my parents for a week or two, but I'm sure that will count against me when it comes to the eventual custody arrangements.

OP posts:

juneybean · 17/04/2010 13:58

Tinies are quite good for finding emergency nannies/babysitters

cookielove · 17/04/2010 14:14

Well i could help everyother week depending on when u need it?

Am away not this but next week, and do a an early late middle shift week rotation
e-4.15 finishes
l- 6.30 finishes
m - 5.30 finishes

i suppose that really isn't that helpful

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 14:33

cookielove - I greatly appriciate the gesture, I really do. It is so lovely that you would offer but in terms of the hours that you do I don't think it will be a possibility.

I think I am going to have to ask my parents to look after my boy on a longer term basis. Although it will break my heart

OP posts:

cookielove · 17/04/2010 14:37

i really hope my hours were better, so i could help you out.

Hope it all works out for you

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 14:43

Thank you so much. It's taken a lot of courage to get to this point. I'm not going to let myself be beaten by practicalities.

OP posts:

mummyquilliam · 17/04/2010 14:45

i would ring local colleges as it would prob suit someone doing their childcare course as you could give them a ref which helps them in long run shame your not closer to me as i could do it how bout neighbours with teenagers looking for extra cash?

jibbs · 17/04/2010 15:10

have you tried childminders?

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 15:20

I have tried calling all the ones in the yellow pages under my area, is there somewhere else I can look?

OP posts:

purepurple · 17/04/2010 15:21

What do you do for childcare during the day?

If it is a nursery, then ask the staff. Lots of nursery workers have to do babysitting in the evenings to top up their wages.

If it is school, then ask the teachers if they know of anyone who could do it. Lots of teachers have children of their own and they tend to have lots of contacts.

You could also ask around at work. A colleague may have older teenagers.
As someone else mentioned, you could ring your local colleges and ask them to ask the childcare students.
Then there are SureStart Children's centres. A lot of them do babysitting courses, so may have a list of local teenagers willing to help you out.
There is a solution, you just need to find it, and you will.

BlueGreen · 17/04/2010 16:18

I would try and find a local childminder or nannies whose evenings are free. In your case Sitters will be expensive for you plus as you said they cant gurantee that you will get a sitter five days in a row. Good luck with finding someone.

BlueGreen · 17/04/2010 16:22

And also there is someone looking for babysitting work in West Hampstead area. I think her post was something like " where do you get your babysitters" have a look West hampstead isnt far from Hemel Hampstead( I think!). Again good luck!

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 16:46

Hemel Hempstead is a small town just outside London.

There is a small SureStart centre here so I'll give them a call that's a great idea. And I'll put out an email at work to see if anyone knows someone willing to do babysitting.

Thank you so much for all your ideas. The last thing I want to do is lose my job, but my safety and my little boy have to come first.

OP posts:

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 17/04/2010 17:17

is it just for 5 evenings? if so....

If you can get your son to me in St Albans, I would do it for you (for free). All I ask in return is that if you can ever help someone out of a tight spot that you do!

I have 17 years experience as a nanny, have excellent refs, both DH and I have 1st aid and enhanced CRB checks.

I have 3 childrn myself so your son would have company

I start work at 10pm so you would need to be quite prompt at collecting him though as I need to leave my house for 9.30

Original poster

gonetoofar · 17/04/2010 17:24

Wow, Paula that is a very generous offer but I can't drive so it isn't really possible for me. I realise like I am sounding like a complete PITA right now!!

I'm sure he would have loved that though as he doesn't get to spend much time with other children, I really need to pass my driving test as I think that is severly inhabiting my options right now.

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the generosity of people on here, thank you so much for your kind offers of help.

OP posts:

elaineq · 17/04/2010 18:03

I am registered on findababysitter.com which seems to have lots of good sitters on it, also try childcare.co.uk. Hope you find someone suitable!

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 18/04/2010 13:04

Its a shame you havent found anyone as this is something I offer but am in east midlands and actually charge £12 an hr.

I am sure there must be a college/uni student who would want to the work for a few weeks, maybe contact the local university job shop see if they have anyone suitable looking for work for those hours or contact the local sixth form college and ask to speak to the course leader for any childcare related courses and see if she has a student in mind who would be suitable.

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/04/2010 18:28

have a look on your local netmums childcare

nannies and cm advertise there

a lovely guesture paula x

BradfordMum · 19/04/2010 07:08

Good luck, I sincerely hope you manage to sort this.

Well done Paula for that lovely gesture.

Sally x

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