How much do London childminders cost?

[SamboM]

DH keeps telling me that we could save a fortune if dd went to a childminder instead of our nanny (who is actually pretty cheap as nannys go and is totally wonderful).

I would like to prove him wrong but don't feel I can call individual childminders and waste their time just to make a point!

We live in Putney, shortly to move to Sheen. Sometimes our nanny gets here at 7am if we both have early meetings, but more usually at 8am and she never leaves before 6, quite often 7pm.

So my q is, how much would it cost to drop her at a childminder's instead? Do they charge you if you are late collecting (I often work outside london and get stuck in traffic coming back). What time in the morning can you drop them off? And how late can they stay?

I work from home 2 days a week, so those days it would only be 9 to 5.

And finally, can anyone recommend a childminder in Sheen in case it does work out much cheaper!

Alibubbles, can you get these vouchers from birth or are they only from aged 4? It would make quite a big difference to me if they were available now! Also, is the 11% on net or gross?

They are available from birth for approved childcare. The 11% is the National Insurance saving on that part of your salary.

Ring Busy Bees and ask for an employers information pack and ask them to call either your employer or your DH. If you speak to your Personnel Dept. they may already have some form of childcare voucher available, Amex do them under another name like Luncheon Vouchers.

You don't have to use a Busy Bee day nursery to get or accept them, but if you do, you get a further 5% reduction on your childcare cost total 16%

try this link for busybees and childcarevouchers

Can't believe what I've read!!!!!

I too am a childminder, in NW England -- going rate around here is £2 per hour. 5days for before & after schol £25 per week.

We are really good value for money, especially as I am a qaulified primary teacher with most of my experience being with nursery & keystage1.

mummysurfer I live up in the midlands and I thought childcare was a bit steep here until I read this too. Infact we are moving to the south-east and I have looked into local nurseries etc and they are twice the price of up here.

Mummysurfer - I'm in the NW and my jaw has dropped at the figures being bandied about here. Jeeze, who'd live in the SE out of choice?

you're shocked? no-one has even mentioned that the average cost of a live-out nanny is around £2500 pcm...

You do earn more in London, but not that much more!s

the reason we are moving is dhs job and yes he is earning more money but you're right Sambo not that much more.

How much is a live out nanny?????

Think of all the shoes you could buy with that money!

FYI the average cost of a registerd childminder in my patch of SE london - Woolwich/Plumstead is £20.00 a day. I am basing this on info from a year ago - possibly the rate has risen a little. This includes food but not nappies. And there are lots of nice ones around - I've never had a problem finding one.

Phew tigermoth, the voice of sanity! £20 per day is more like it.

My SE london childminder will be £30/day for dd2 (slightly less for dd1 because she's been there so long). She's completely wonderful and I think we get excellent value - certainly dd1's only social skills (washing hands, saying Peeze and Thankoo) come from being with her four days a week!