What sort of childcare?

[learningallthetime]

I'm due back to work in August, I only need childcare for three hours a day.

What sort of childcare is best for a shor period of time?

If I use nursery I will have to pay for a whole afternoon session which means it won't be worth me returning to work.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Nurseries round here do do part time places, and some you can pay by the hour.

Our nursery does part-time am or pm slots - but it can work out more expensive

a childminder may be your best bet as they can be more flexible IME

maybe try finding a child minder? I found them more flexible than nurseries. Saying that ds's last nursery was extremely flexible and I could pay by the hour. Only way to find out is lots of phone calls I'm afraid

All the nurseries by me are morning or afternoon sessions only.

Do CM do by the hour?

How on earth do you go about finding a CM? I'm finding the thought of leaving DD with a stranger very scary. I don't know any one who uses a CM so haven't got any recommendations

It might be worthwhile asking around at a local toddler group, it might be that the mums there have a few CMs that are 'tried and tested' in your area. Or maybe your Health Visitor could give you some names?

CMs are registered so the local authority will hold a list. A CM can be more flexible, so you can maybe pay for just what you use. However, my choice would be nursery, even if it means paying for the afternoon session, as there is more ongoing security - if CM is ill, you're stuffed, whereas nursery is always open. Also, the interaction/activities will be good for your dc. Actually, thinking about it, a CM might want you to pay for the whole afternoon anyway, as they have a quota of children they can have, and tbh, if she has yours for 3 hours, she is unlikely to be able to offer the rest of the afternoon to anyone else, so there may be very little difference in cost anyway.
Best of luck - your dc will be absolutely fine and you will enjoy being back in no time!

Childcare @ Direct.gov.uk will enable you to search for contact details of some childminders, and also for your local authorities Children's Information Service (who can provide you with a comprehensive list of childminders).

3-hours per day, may not suit many childminders though, as it can make it rather restrictive on what they do... and also they may find it hard to fill that childcare place for the rest of the day. Childminders are limited in the number of children for whom they can care at any one time, and it is more profitable for them to fill a full-time under 5's place, than have a place filled for only part of a day. Each childminder will operate differently though, so you may find one who is happy to accommodate only 3 hours per day.

Try posting on the Mumsnet Childminders/Nannies board

Thanks everyone.

I followed the link Nanny nick and have found some nurseries that do 'hours' so I will be phonoing around now!