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Original poster

After school care

10 replies

smokey · 26/03/2002 22:14

Has anyone any advice on after school care? I recently started a new p/t job which I adore and desperately want to keep. The firm agreed to alter my hours so I am able to drop my children off at school first but I don't get home till 7.45pm. As my dd is only just 5, I need a nanny rather than a childminder 2 afternoons/evenings a week so dd can get to bed on time. My nanny has handed in her notice after just 5 weeks as she has got a new day job that involves shift work and it will conflict with her hours working for me. How do you find a good nanny who is interested in working just 6 or 7 hours a week and who is not likely to resign at any moment due to the demands of her main job? Am I expecting the impossible? Are there any other options anyone can suggest given I get home so late?

OP posts:
robinw · 27/03/2002 07:21

message withdrawn

EmmaM · 27/03/2002 08:37

Smokey, what about your partner? What time does he finish work? The after school clubs I know where I live finish at 6pm, which wouldn't help you, but it occured to me that why should it always be mum that rearranges her hours? I had a chat with my dh about this a while ago, and we agreed that would ask his boss about changing his hours too so that we could cover our child care. Currently I start work at 8 am, so dh drops our ds at his childminders and I collect him at 4.30. When ds starts school, dh is going to try and arrange his hours so he can take him to school and I'll change my hours so I can pick him up. Would something like that work in reverse for you? Could your partner start work early so he could be home to pick up your dd at, say, 5.30, making an after schools club arrangement more feasible? I think fathers should be given the same rights to change their hours as mothers.

Paula1 · 27/03/2002 09:03

Smokey, do you belong to a gym that runs a creche - or is there one close by? Most of these types of creche are finished by around 2-3pm, and one of the nannies there may be looking to supplement her income - maybe worth a try.

tigermoth · 27/03/2002 10:41

You could contact a local nursing college, or FE college that runs child care courses. A student might be able to help you out.

BTW, childminders do look after school-age children, and IME are often more eager to do this - a school pick-up is less stressful than full-time baby care. Ask your council for the current list.

Also, put a notice up at school. Childminders nd interested parents who pick up from the school can then contact you. You might even end up with a nanny share this way.

Hope this helps.

Barca · 27/03/2002 16:25

Do you really need a nanny? An ad in my local paper for someone to pick my son up from school and look after him in the evenings until I get home produced a number of replies from mums whose children had grown up and who really just wanted contact with small children again. The lady I chose (who we pay much less than an official "nanny" has become part of our family, is happy to babysit if we want to go out and is terrific with my son. I think there are lots of mums out there whose kids are in their teens but don't want a full time job who would be pleased to help. Obviously you'll need to check references but it worked for us.

Barca · 27/03/2002 16:27

Not sure why my full stop became a winking smiley when this message was posted. Rather over stresses the financial angle I think!

sis · 27/03/2002 16:50

I don't know if this is going to help but I understand that nanny agencies provide "mothers help" as well as the more full-time sounding nannies. Perhaps a mothers help would be more likely to work the hours you are offering? good luck.

Alibubbles · 27/03/2002 17:33

I am registered with a nanny agency and most of the jobs at the moment are for 3.30 to 6.30 all school pick ups!

If you advertise, make sure you get them police checked, it is easier for them to do it themselves, you could pay (only £15) but it's much quicker that way, than waiting for the pack from the CRB to come. Verbally check references too, you get a better idea from speaking to people.

Also, schools (in Herts I don't know about elsewhere) are keeping details of all childminders who are happy to take after school children. It is certainly county wide here, The c/m registers her details with the school, more than one if they wish to, and those details are kept aavailbale to any parent who wants to look for a c/m. HTH

Original poster
smokey · 27/03/2002 21:10

Many thanks for all your suggestions. The school does have an after school club but only to 5.30pm and we've no space for an au pair unfortunately. My dh has arranged to work from home one day a week so he can take the children to school that day and pick them up. That just leaves the other 2 days...
Alibubbles, I didn't know schools kept details of childminders who do after school care. I live in Herts so will certainly enquire at the school.
In the meantime, I am advertising for an 'experienced person' rather than a nanny and I'll see what response I get.

OP posts:
Alibubbles · 28/03/2002 08:31

Smokey, it is a fairly new scheme, I do have a list of the schools involved so far, if you give me a town I'll tell which school have registered so far.

It is always a good idea to go and ask the school secretary anyway, they always seem to know who minds or is willing to care for after schoolers.

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