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Original poster

I need childcare 7am - 6.30pm

63 replies

JanePurdy · 21/03/2014 08:23

Can't find childcare for the hours I need, 7am-6.30pm. Nurseries are 7.30am-6pm, before/after school club is 7.30am-5.45pm. Haven't found a childminder I would be happy with who does longer hours either. Just impossible!

OP posts:
ManicMinor · 21/03/2014 08:24

Nanny? Expensive though.

LIZS · 21/03/2014 08:24

nanny , au pair to drop off and pick up form nursery ?

MadameLeBean · 21/03/2014 08:25

Nanny?

My dd school provides wraparound 7.30am-6.30pm - rare though and £££

Blu · 21/03/2014 08:28

Are you a single parent, OP?
DH/P work flexi?

Mintyy · 21/03/2014 08:29

I really think you need a nanny or a nanny share. It must be miserable for a pre-schooler to spend 55 hours a week in a nursery.

Mintyy · 21/03/2014 08:30

I'm assuming you have a pre-schooler because you mention nurseries.

Original poster
JanePurdy · 21/03/2014 08:37

I'm not a single parent, but I have to plan our childcare so that I can do it all as DP will be going into 3 days a week variable shifts come the summer while I work full time. It has been working because he did 2 days fixed 9-5 and my mum did childcare those days anyway but my mum is (totally fair enough!) retiring, but it is now all change… I have a 3 hour round commute which is the sticker.

Can't afford nanny, our household income after tax will be about £2500 monthly with both of us working.

OP posts:
YarnyStasher · 21/03/2014 08:44

Round here 2 out of the 3 local nurseries do 7am to 6:30pm. I didn't realise it was that unusual. We live in a commuter area though.

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 21/03/2014 08:46

Depends where you are, our nursery opens 7.30am to 6.30pm, DS is rarely there got the full full day but some kids are, it's doable if you find one but they are few and far between

To say they must be miserable doing a full day and week is insulting, he key workers love their charges at mine, they do loads of stuff I wouldn't have the energy to do each and every day, cooking/baking, painting, getting outdoors, playing in the mud, dancing, reading and phonics, making things to bring home... Making friends and most importantly socialising, ok so in an ideal world you wouldn't be out and away that long, but if needs must you shouldn't be guilt tripped by others into thinking their way is best x

Original poster
JanePurdy · 21/03/2014 09:48

Maybe that's the problem, we live about 20mins from the centre of town so there isn't demand? Unfortunately I don't work there!

OP posts:
derektheladyhamster · 21/03/2014 09:52

Are there any childcare options near to your work? (reducing the hours you need for childcare)

UriGeller · 21/03/2014 09:54

A childminder you could negotiate hours with? It is a lot of hours though and I would have thought that many hours (and out of hours working) would be ££s.

Mumof3xx · 21/03/2014 09:54

Have you checked all local nurseries? Several near me open at 7am and a couple close at 630/7

Original poster
JanePurdy · 21/03/2014 11:01

There are nurseries near where I work which would be an option for dc2, but I would have to take her on a 1.5hr tram/train ride to get there which I don't relish the thought of! And it would still leave me with trying to find a solution for dc1 who has school so can't be taken off to near my work.

I can find nurseries that open at 7am (for an extra fee) but none thus far that stay open after 6pm. I'm a bit limited in my search radius though as it really has to be in our area so that it's possible to get dd1 as well.

Hmmm.

OP posts:
Blu · 21/03/2014 19:00

Move?

3 hours a day commuting when you have small children is .... well a big waste of 3 hours, and you're paying for all that extra childcare.

Original poster
JanePurdy · 21/03/2014 20:03

I know Blu but it's only a fixed term contract (Aug 2015 end) & unlikely either me or DP would find jobs there after that. I think if dc1 wasn't in school we would have considered it but it didn't seem worth the disruption to move for just 2 years as we wouldn't be near the support my mum has given us or indeed DP's job.

OP posts:
BarbaraPalmer · 21/03/2014 20:10

Au pair or other mother's help type person to fill the gap between when you leave and when nursery/breakfast club opens?

Or could you negotiate with your mum to help out with this? MIL wouldn't happily do a full day's childcare, but is happy to do from when school finishes until I get in.

Original poster
JanePurdy · 21/03/2014 20:48

Yes Barbara I'm wondering about asking my mum. I wish I had some idea about DP's shifts - I don't think he will ever be able to do the evening pick up but depending on his shift he might be able to do 7.30 drop off. Just don't know! My mum might cover either end of the day though if I ask her.

OP posts:
VikingLady · 21/03/2014 21:17

Two childminders? One am, one pm?

MrsMargoLeadbetter · 22/03/2014 05:22

It all sounds very difficult.

Have you advertised on childcare.co.uk or gumtree? Or the noticeboard section of netmums which is free. For the bit which is difficult to do, ie the early start and taking the DC to the nursery etc.

I ask as when I was trying to find childcare solution for my DS to cover his phased start in reception I was advised by another MNtter to do that. She had, had the same issue (he was due to do half-days until half term, the breakfast and after school clubs would provide care but the school wanted him out at 12!) and said loads of very experienced people came forward. They were all interested in 'quirky' hours. You never know who might be looking for some extra money/additional hours before they start another job. I didn't need to do it in the end as the school allowed him to go full-time after I begged them.

I also wondered if any of the nursery nurses would be willing to do it, especially if they have to go there anyway.

There should be a solution out there, it is just going to take a bit of finding.

You have my sympathy. Good luck.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 22/03/2014 05:52

Can you ask you work for support/flexibility? Eg leaving an hour early each day and making it up with an hour's wfh in the evening?

CharityCase · 22/03/2014 05:52

Nursery plus au pair would be the only way that I can see it working at an affordable rate. Do you have room for a live-in?

GiraffesAndButterflies · 22/03/2014 05:52

*your work

insancerre · 22/03/2014 06:48

can you reduce your hours at work temporarily?

georgesdino · 22/03/2014 06:55

Nurseries here offer 7-7 in a lot of them and we are a town where most people have really low paid jobs. If not many nurseries can arrange for one of the people to work there will do that have hour for 4 quid.

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