Help needed understanding the world of childcare options!

[nickyp]

Hi all - your wordly advice and knowledge required!

I'm back to work in June and need to sort out childcare for my little boy who will be coming up to 9 months old then. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will tell me Ive left it far to late - but i'm new to all this and the realities that the waiting lists are years long etc. are a bit of shock to be honest!

So could people expain the difference between childminders and nanny share and what these are likely to cost? Any nurseries I should avoid? What sort of checks I can make on childminders and nurseries?

And any other general pearls of wisdom you can share would be fab!

Thanks

Nicky

[katgod]

childminder - works at their own home, is inspected and registered with Ofsted and with Southwark. List can be got from the council Children's department. Can only take one child under one, will be a mix of other children there too probably. Homely environment, your child will have to fit in with the others, and will go on school runs and drop offs with the minder and the other children. Prices vary wildly.

Nanny works at your house, or the home of the people you share with. Can be OFsted registered but doesn't have to be. If your employer offers childcare vouchers in lieu of part of your salary then you need an Ofsted registered nanny to pay her (usually a her) with the vouchers. All registered child minders could take childcare vouchers, some may prefer not to tho. Depending on whether you share or not you either have one-on one care for your child, or a modified form of the childminder experience. Simply Childcare, EDF and Gumtree seem like good sources. Could be that you havethe nanny exclusively 3 days, and another family has her 2 days, or she looks after 2 or 3 children from 2 families at the same time.

Nursery - not many options for under ones in SE22, all registered and ofsted inspected, again prices vary wildly. You may be able to get a place at a nursery near your workplace, or if working in hospital have a creche similar there. You may get lucky with nusery as often they prefer you now with cash ready than holding a place for someone who won't pay anything til 6 months' time.

You have to do what works best for you. I've done all 3 options over the years. They are all running a business and every family has different needs and priorities for their child. keep an open mind and get on the phone to Southwark! Good luck

[snss75]

Au pair can be a good option as well if you have the space and are happy to have someone living with you. Usually 18-25 years old girls who are not qualified nannies or Ofsted registered but often have some childcare experience and you can specify your requirements. A lot like a nanny but no experience :). There have bee some threads about au pairs here; do a search and you'll find more info if you're interested.

[sillywoman]

Is it true that it's not legal for an Au-Pair to have sole charge of under 2's - or is it another urban myth?

[littleEDfamily]

I would think carefully about hiring a nanny yourself at this point - it's such a big responsibility with all the contracts and tax etc. If you are a nanny 'virgin' see if you can join as established share - that way you get someone already vetted and you probably won't need to take primary responsibility for all the admin etc. If you can find a family with a child a similar age, it can work beautifully as they grow up together. A really great childminder is another good option and definitely one I would prefer over nursery for this age. For nannyshare and childminders, I think it works out as between ?55 - ?70 a day,

[veryseriousgirl]

sillywoman Wrote:

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> Is it true that it's not legal for an Au-Pair to

> have sole charge of under 2's - or is it another

> urban myth?

It's something I've read on several nanny agency websites - have looked for more "official" information, but haven't been able to find it on a cursory search.

[crystal7]

I got a list of registered childminders in SE22 and SE17 (where I work) from the council but ended up finding my (wonderful) childminder by placing an ad on this forum.

I don't think you've left it too late for a childminder (or a nanny share?)- I found mine about a month before I was due back at work!

Good luck!

[womanofdulwich]

It is illegal to employ an au pair for sole care of babies- or at least if you look at au pair agency web sites - such as "au pair world - it is"-if you think about it they are often 17-19 year olds that have lived at home and now often coming abroad for the first time to improve their english. They have no first aid training they will not know about swimming lessons, one o clock clubs etc etc. If you have to use a nursery and need "wrap around care" then an au pair can help ( as some nurseries keep shorter hours than a working day if you have to travel into the city).

Try Simply Childcare website or give them a ring they are terribly helpful. You are not too late at all. Or below for definition of au au pair linkpairs

[nickyp]

Thanks all so helpful!! I think the childminder is my peferred route but no ideal response to my ad on the forum yet so any other ways to find them much appreciated and will check out the suggestions above.

[Fuschia]

Au pairs aren't supposed to have sole charge of preschoolers at all... but I don't see that it would be "illegal"

I don't know whether the ternm siof their visa would prohibit working more thna 25h p/w though. AS they are untrained, prob not the best option for a small baby!

Minders are best for under 2s, IMO

[Fuschia]

nickyp Wrote:

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> Thanks all so helpful!! I think the childminder is

> my peferred route but no ideal response to my ad

> on the forum yet so any other ways to find them

> much appreciated and will check out the

> suggestions above.

Childcare Link, via the web... and list from Southwark. Also look on noticeboards in library, cafes etc