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Original poster

Where do you start with childcare arrangements?

16 replies

HelloMama · 23/05/2004 19:14

I'm going on maternity leave on 25 June and am taking 6 months off. I haven't decided yet about what to do about going back to work, however, when do you have to start planning childcare arrangements for when you do return to work?? I expect its something I should have arranged already, however I just don't know what to do! I think I will end up going back to work part-time and I think nursery care will probably suit us best, however I don't know anyone else with children so have no recommendations to go on, etc, which I think is important. I don't even know how much nursery care costs per day! I live in the SE1 area if anyone has any recommendations. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

OP posts:

hercules · 23/05/2004 19:20

I would start a good few months before as good nurseries are hard to get places for. We looked around sw london and was average£35 a day.

NomDePlume · 23/05/2004 19:23

Hi HelloMama

In my case, I phoned my local council who provided me with a list of suitable licensed child carers (both day nurseries and child minders). This list had details about costs per hour and contact details. I would advise that you do the same and contact your local council to obtain a list.

You will need to phone around pretty much as soon as you get he list as the establishments are likely to have waiting lists and you will need to put your childs name down. You will also probably want to arrange visits to some of them, just so you can get a feel for the place, the kind of care and or routine they offer and you can also ask them q's face to face.

HTH

Soulfly · 23/05/2004 19:24

I haven;t any advice i am a sahm, but i am looking to go back to work, and my youngest starts school in september, i just have no clue on what to do.

Hulababy · 23/05/2004 19:28

I sat down with a copy of the local Yellow Pages and made a note of any I thought were worth visiting - mainly based on location t first. I then wrote to them for further details - costs, availability, how they worked/ran, and many replied with prospectuses and leaflets too. I then read through everything I had and choose to visit the 2 I felt were most suitable. I then choose the oone I like best following the visit and got her name on the waiting list. That was when I had first started maternity leave so I was about 35/6 weeks pregnant, and DD started nursery at 21 weeks - so about 5 months in advance. Baby places are more scare as they are often limited numbers available in each nursery.

I have just been through the process again as, due to work changes, I have to move DD's nursery - she's now 2. And I pretty much did the same process. This time I did all this about 6 months in advance. Some nurseries already were flly booked though Luckily the best choice for us wasn't

Like you, I had no one to ask for personal recommendations.

HTH

Original poster

HelloMama · 23/05/2004 19:28

Ok thanks! Its all such a dilemma! I want to be a stay at home mum, but I also love my work and would like to work a little bit. Its hard when there's no family nearby and I'm sure so many other mums have the same problem. I feel guilty already and I haven't even had the baby yet!!

OP posts:

hercules · 23/05/2004 19:31

Wait till it's born then the guilt really starts

I'm back to work tomorrow

Original poster

HelloMama · 23/05/2004 19:35

i've suddenly realised what a nightmare I must have been to my parents! I thought life in general can be fairly hard work - now I know how EASY it is just with myself and DH to look after! Is it too late to change my mind and take the baby back for a refund??!

OP posts:

bluebear · 23/05/2004 19:38

Try childcare link
It's a government site with links to childcare vacancies with childminders or nurseries..and has the local office number for you to call for more help.
I am in West London suburbs and pay £44 a day (includes food but not nappies) for an under 2 yr old..most nurseries round here have very long waiting lists (which they charge £30 for you to join!) and average £50 per day for an infant. Childminders ask for £4 or £5 per hour depending on experience/facilities, and most will provide food but some don't...they only want a couple of months notice as they like to fill their vacancies when they occur..they are also in short supply round here.
Hope this helps..I would start looking round nurseries as soon as you can and keep an open mind about other options. Good luck.

SoftFroggie · 23/05/2004 19:49

HI HelloMama,

The sooner you start the better - for two reasons, firstly, in some areas places book really fast (I looked when I was 5mo pg, planning to go back to work when ds was 6.5 mo, and couldn't find any vacancy in the town I work in), also it's easier to make lots of visits when you have a bump not a baby.

Contact your local council for a list of registered places - their website will have the right contact details. Most (though not all) of the places will be listed on www.childcarelink.gov.uk (not sure about links)where you can search for nurseries and childminders in your area. I think they have prices there too.

Visit as many places as you possibly can, ask lots of questions, the things I didn't really think enough about were convenience in location / parking etc, and how things change as they age - you will look closely at the baby room, but where will he be when he's 18mo, 2.5yrs etc...

I was sure I wanted a nursery, but in hindsight wish I'd looked at a few childminders, too. I suspect a good childminder can be better than a nursery (and a poor childminder, worse!).

Lots of luck,
SoftFroggie

motherinferior · 23/05/2004 19:49

Hello HelloMama!

You're in Southwark, right? The council has a decent booklet on early years services, and it may well be on the web as well. You could also consider the options near your work. I think you will have to be fairly clear about how many days care you will be wanting, at least at the beginning.

Childminders are a definite option, and there are some very good ones about. Have a chat to the Southwark branch of the National Childminders Assocation - contact number will be in the aforementioned booklet. Southwark will also give you - separately - a list of registered childminders with current vacancies (this is a bit of a double-bind if you're planning ahead, obviously) but they may not necessarily be NCMA members. So talk to the NCMA as well, and get the NCMA booklet on what questions to ask and what to look for.

Being deeply inferior, I have to admit I was bloody desperate to get back to work first time round, and not terribly reluctant second time round.

motherinferior · 23/05/2004 19:50

PS I'm not in Southwark, I'm in Lewisham, but do email me if you need to.

Original poster

HelloMama · 23/05/2004 19:58

Thanks motherinferior! I think I have the booklet you mentioned, but just haven't looked at it because keep thinking i can deal with all of this another time... perhaps now is that time! Also thanks everyone for the website suggestions, have had a quick look. I have a day off tomorrow, so instead of moping about the house perhaps I will try to make some progress!

OP posts:

motherinferior · 23/05/2004 20:06

It is bewildering, I know.

But honestly, it is dealable-with. I went back to work three days a week when my first baby was four months old, left her with a fantastic childminder and all went really well. I went up to four days a week when she was six months; and after my second daughter I went back to work four days a week when she was just coming up for five months. I love my work (well, I grumble about it all the time, but I do love it) and I love my girls. And I think my childminder, who now has them both, is fabulous.

Original poster

HelloMama · 23/05/2004 20:14

I have to go now but will keep you posted as to how I get on. Will have lots more questions no doubt! Hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening!

OP posts:

Tanzie · 23/05/2004 21:14

Hi HM,

I was just down the road from you, in SE11, and there were absolutely NO childminders around. We found a great temporary nanny from Childcare Unlimited - give them a ring (check the website) and see if they will let you have one of their magazines before subscribing.

There is also a nursery which advertises on lamp posts (!) based near the Elephant - but think may be more SE17 than SE1.

hoxtonchick · 23/05/2004 21:22

I was so in denial about returning to a job I hated when ds was 6 months that I left it until he was 5.5 months to start looking.... And he got a place at a fantastic nursery, our first choice. So although I would advise being considerably more organised than I was it didn't work out badly for us.

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