Childcare - most cost effective option?

hulagirl79

Hi
I understand how difficult it can be to find childcare you are happy with.

I am a nanny and have a fair bit of experience with nanny, nursery and aupairs, but none on childminder's so i will not comment on them

I personally would not go down the aupair route as they are not qualified or registered and most have no childcare experience and they should not have childcare for more than 3 hours a day [ if i had a child i would not go down this route ]

The nanny route is more flexible but it costs more about £250 [dependant where you live] per week before tax and insurance [but they tend to be registered and have qualifications and you can get tax benefits on nannys if they are registered]


I would go down the nursery route if you can not afford a nanny.

Oldernotwiser

As mentioned previously, the OP will get no funding for an au pair.

hulagirl79

Hi oldernotwiser.
I realise that aupairs do not get any tax credits, thats why i didnt put that they did.

sooty&sweep

Hi

How old is your child ?

I'm assuming that as a single parent & student you'll get help with your childcare costs ?

The advantage of a nursery is the stability of availability of childcare it can offer. In terms of even if a member of staff is ill your child will still be cared for. There is also all the advantages in terms of preparation for school etc.

Although I realise that doesn't help in terms of early or late shifts.

Good Luck

Oldernotwiser

hulagirl79 wrote: »

Hi oldernotwiser.
I realise that aupairs do not get any tax credits, thats why i didnt put that they did.

I'm not talking about tax credits; I'm talking about the Childcare Grant that you can claim whilst at university. That was what my post was about!

bestpud

Just a few thoughts I've had on reading your post:

If you go down the nanny route (I would give au pairs a wide berth on the grounds of finance and qualifications/experience) then you will have more flexibility, I guess, if you can find one who is happy to work unsocial hours. However, if it is a live in nanny, you need to factor in the possible problems with sharing your home.

Think about your days off for example - would you prefer the house to yourself, or just you and dd perhaps?

Plus if you have one person then you need a 'plan B' for when they are ill or on holiday - you may get very little notice with the former! Also if they decide to leave/have a child etc.

Same goes for a childminder, but they are often more flexible with times than a nursery, and often a little cheaper too.

With a nursery you will tend not to have problems with staff sickness/holidays etc, but your dd may catch more bugs, when she first starts at least, so she may be too unwell for nursery.

A nanny would generally look after a sick child too, I imagine, but a childminder probably won't if they have other children.

My preference is a nursery as I have had a dodgy experience with a childminder. But I know several parents who swear by their childminder.

How old is your dd btw?

My suggestion is to visit several nurseries/child minders and see how you go. If one seems ok then visit again and make sure you are entirely happy.

It's good you have left time imo - I am always amazed at the parents who sign up for courses thinking they can just sort childcare in the week before they start! Then they get in flap because they can't find anyone and the nurseries are all full, and start having time off right from the start! Apart from the consequences for their course though, why wouldn't people want to ensure they choose the right childcare and have time to settle them before they start college? It was the first thing I thought of!

Loopy_Girl

I've no advice but I just wanted to commend you on your studies.

I too am a lone parent and have limited childcare. My parents are quite poorly so I only ask when desperate and I hate asking my friends even when I know they are happy to do so.

I'm not studying but do work so I know what it can be like.

Well done you and good luck with the course xx

hulagirl79

Hi older not wiser
sorry didnt realise that
didnt mind to offend.

summerday

Just to add that you need to remember that an au pair is not meant to work more than approx 5 hours per day, and they are usually 18 or not much older with limited childcare experience and probably no childcare qualifications. Au pairing is a way for a young girl to travel and experience another country while staying with a family. No way would I leave a young baby with an au pair for long, far better to go with an Ofsted registered childminder or nursery with the relevant qualifications and experience.

Oldernotwiser

hulagirl79 wrote: »

Hi older not wiser
sorry didnt realise that
didnt mind to offend.

No offence taken; just making sure we're all singing from the same hymn sheet.:beer: