Employing A Teacher as a Nanny

[Lemitta123]

We are interested in employing a teacher with Primary experience to help us with our 3 children before and after school and full time during the school holidays (as a nanny/tutor). Please can I ask if there are any agencies/websites where teachers would typically look for such posts?
I have looked at Gumtree and childcare.co.uk but I am getting nannies with no prior teaching experience.
Thank you in advance for any help...

[VikingLady]

Perhaps you could get a tutor to help with the hooework, and a nanny/au pair for the remainder?

[YoullNeedATray]

After I did my PGCE one of my classmates went straight into a nannying post instead of teaching. She'd previously worked as a nanny and thought she'd teach primary ... then found that it wasn't what she wanted. If you found someone like that, then the salary you'd be offering would be far more than an NQT would get. Might be worth contacting the Education faculties of local Unis to advertise the post?

[Lemitta123]

We are just south of London...

[GW297]

I've been offered nannying jobs on a similar salary to my teaching one. TAs generally earn around £20,000 so I'd imagine many of them would be interested if the hours suited.

[TinyDiamond]

Where do you live?

[Lemitta123]

Some great points, thank you. It seems a little more thought on my part is needed before taking things any further...

[ravenAK]

I reckon you might have some luck recruiting a TA, if you found one who could work those hours.

Several of the TAs I work with (am a secondary English teacher) would absolutely be capable of supervising prep in the evenings & organising literacy & numeracy based activities in the holidays.

The salary package you're offering would be attractive to a TA, & lots of those jobs are disappearing atm sadly, thanks to current cutbacks.

Not sure where you'd advertise. Good luck with it!

[NomDeClavier]

You want a nanny/governess. I did that role for a couple of years. Look for a nanny with a degree in a relevant subject who has done some school placements. Norland probationer? I'm fairly sure they do school placements.

[NancyJones]

OP, are your children educated at a state or independent school? I ask because you would need to also make clear how many wks f/t any applicant was looking at. Mine are at independent school and I know they have close to 19wks holiday a year. I teach state and get 13wks so quite a difference. It also may mean that any applicant with their own children in state school would find it difficult to do those extra 6wks.

I'd also like to point out that I'm an upper ks2 teacher and wouldn't have the first clue where to start in terms of nannying despite being on my 4th baby. Plus I'm going back to work to avoid childcare. I don't see them as similar at all!
Do you have any universities or colleges near you? If so you could advertise for a 3rd or 4th year BEd student. I didn't do this course myself but all BEd students ive had have been full of ideas and enthusiasm. Oh and they're likely to be poor and maybe could work the hours you're looking for as uni hols would be longer. But you'd need to make allowances for when they had teaching practice.

[TheScience]

A nanny wage will likely be a big step up for an ex-TA, however, many TAs will have their own school age children so your hours wouldn't be ideal.

[vestandknickers]

It sounds as if you asking for a lot of different things. Maybe too many? A parent obviously needs to be cook, teacher, carer etc etc etc but I don't think you can expect a professional to fill all those roles. Good luck though. Sounds like a big ask!

[Lemitta123]

I think its not so much a qualification I am looking for, more someone who's had experience in a classroom and understands the curriculum and teaching methods used. I think that could suit a TA too?

Most of the teachers my children have had have been lovely and they seem to be really creative and inspiring to the children, whether it be healthy eating or learning about the Egyptians. Some of the games and activities they have done sound amazing and i'm just not sure a nanny would have this sort of experience...though I am sure there are some, but whether they are looking for a job now is another thing!

Thank you for the suggestions, i'm off to have a look now...and a think!

[Procrastreation]

This worked well for us. No advice on how to find such a person, however! The candidate was someone who worked as an au-pair for us when the DC were babies. She ended up settling in the same area as us, and went on to become a teacher (albeit in a private school - so she has no teaching qualification).

Her regular job is a 4 day per week contract, and the remaining day she works for us. I hired her primarily as a nanny for the youngest - but I've been delighted at her initiative with setting up 'improving' educational activities for the other DC. I don't require her to do homework - I think that is a bit much to put on someone - I find it works better to let her use her judgement for activities that will fit into the day. She's also been big on improving clubs for the baby - and that has in many ways bridged her lack of formal childcare experience (i.e. she spends the bulk of her day at clubs or activities & hence has learnt quick by example). We had close to 3 months handover, however, to build her confidence on the basics. It's not the panacea.

[rollonthesummer]

That's clearer, thank you OP.

I think you need someone older with no children at home as otherwise (unless you are willing to let them bring their own children), the cost of their own childcare will probably be prohibitive in allowing them to work these hours.

You initially stated that you wanted a teacher but then said a TA might find it worthwhile. What actual qualifications are you looking for? A qualified teacher? A nanny with BTEC/NNEB sort of qualifications? Many TAs at my school have no qualifications at all-is that the sort of thing you want?

[PotteringAlong]

www.tutors-international.com

This is probably a good place to start

[Lemitta123]

Thank you for all your replies, I really appreciate it.

We are looking for wrap around care during the school term (7-9am and 2.45-7.15pm - possibly until 10pm once a week) and then 9.30-5.30 in the holidays. (These hours are flexible to some degree). We do have an annexe which could be used during the day if they didn't want to travel in between the two time slots.

I agree that it would be impossible for someone to teach in a school at the same time, but I was more thinking of a teacher who wanted to have a slight change in direction...with less formality and paperwork.

Regards pay, we would be happy to pay £30k a year with the usual statutory holiday entitlement...Obviously this is a lot less than the £40k upthread but I don't know if a TA would find it worthwhile?!?

The reason we are looking for help is that I am starting to struggle with spending enough time with each child, especially on their homework. I suspect a teacher would be able to assist them far better than I could, especially as I find the teaching methods now have changed so much from when I was at school. The teaching aspect would only be a part of the job, whilst the majority would be a more traditional 'nanny' role.

In addition, particularly during the holidays, I think it may be beneficial to have some time doing 'fun' educational activities. E.g. writing numbers in the sand and throwing pebbles on the multiples of 2/5 etc, playing pontoon to help with their addition. Although we have had lots of lovely nannies apply, they seem to be very nurturing and caring but they don't seem to show any initiative to help with their school work. We could look for a childminder but I would prefer the children to spend time in their own home.

At the moment I am thinking things through but thought it worth asking the question...doesn't seem like we will find it easy though!

Thanks again.

[rollonthesummer]

Considering!

[rollonthesummer]

Has the OP come back? What salary are you co side ring paying?

[NomDeClavier]

Overseas qualified teacher? Or do you specifically want UK teaching exp/quals?

[rollonthesummer]

You would never get someone who was working as a teacher at the time (how could they let their class out and pick upor children up simultaneously (let alone attend any meetings!).

It's also v different to pay someone 8-6 but I presume you won't be, OP? That's a lot of trapped time.

[Philoslothy]

We hired an ex teacher because of who she was not because we wanted an ex teacher. She also had early years experience.

[vestandknickers]

Why would you want a teacher and not a qualified childminder? Your children need some chill out time before and after school - not tutoring.

[LoopyDoopyDoo]

And when would they do their school work? I just can't see this happening unless you find an ex- or retired teacher.

[LoopyDoopyDoo]

I doubt many teachers will be looking on gumtree for jobs.

[TheScience]

I know a few younger teachers (and nurses) on salaries in the lower £20ks that swapped to nannying - set hours (8am-6pm generally), no work to take home, less stress and £30k+ salaries in London. Obviously the pay-off is the shorter holidays.

I'm not sure how much the OP's part time hours would appeal though. You'd be better off looking at nanny agencies to recruit someone with specific skills rather than advertising on gumtree though.