As working parents Dr Lucy and Hugh have lots of experiencing of organising childcare and know how important it is to know your little one is well looked after. Take a look at our list on SW6.
Nannies
Whether you are going back to the office or just need a little time to catch up on life admin, lots of parents choose to have a nanny. The first thing is to decide exactly what you need. Would you like a live-in nanny or live-out? Do you need someone full-time? For many families it is their first time employing staff and it's important not to forget essentials such as criminal record checks and references.
Agencies: There are many agencies. If you choose to use one be clear what you are getting, for instance will they just send you selected candidates or will they also undertake some of the vetting for you such as criminal record checks (now called DBS check), verify identity and right to work in the UK. It is also important you understand the full amount of any fee you will be charged and what are the options if the nanny doesn't work out with your family. There are some local agencies including Fulham Nannies and Eden Nannies.
Advertisements: Many families look to job advert sites such as Gumtree and either place their own advert or browse the ads posted by people looking for work. Remember, this way you must take care to ensure the person is appropriately qualified and perform your own identity check including passport and visas, criminal record checks and references to ensure your family's safety. Plus organise a contract of employment. There are also some useful childcare specific sites which can help you to narrow down your search such as Childcare.
Social Media and Personal Recommendations: Like most things in life there is nothing like a great recommendation from someone you trust. So if you are looking, let people know and consider using social media to share. Local facebook parent groups can be useful for this too. Don't forget you still need to do all your own checks though.
Tax and pensions: Nannies are usually employed by the family and this means you will need to comply with UK rules on tax and pensions. I'd highly recommend using one of the many companies to do this for you, it makes life a lot easier and you won't need to worry about missing something, Nannytax and PAYE for Nannies are both popular established companies.
Childminders
They are trained carers who will look after your child in their own home, they should be registered with the government agency Ofsted. They can offer some more flexibility in hours and a more homely environment. You can access a list of local registered childminders here.
Tax breaks and support with costs
Working parents may be entitled to a government contribution to their childcare costs. This can be complicated and it depends on incomes. Some employers also offer childcare benefits. It is worth doing some research, the government has an online calculator here, and you can get some more independent advice from the Money Advice Service here.
Day Care Nurseries
Many parents going back to work will choose to use a day care nursery. These usually start from 3 months of age and can offer flexibility for workers plus lots of different activities as your little one grows. There are lots of nurseries to choose from in Fulham.
Hours: It is sensible to start looking for a nursery place well in advance, so if you are planning to return to work after 12 months of maternity leave or sooner it is best to start looking as soon as possible and certainly before your baby is 3 months old. This is because there are strict ratios of babies to carers and it can be hard to find a place. Think about the practicalities of how you working day will work, is it better to choose a nursery close to your work or the tube station. Do their hours work with your work day? Can they offer extra sessions if needed? What is the system if you are late for a pick-up?
Feeding and sleeping: Young babies especially will still need regular naps and feeds and asking the staff how they can support your baby's needs and routine is a good point to start from. Where do baby's nap? Are they happy to follow any particular dietary requirements you might have? Do they use a catering company or make their own food?
Staff: I always advice parents to try and visit several nurseries and talk to several members of staff. Generally happy staff will help to make sure your baby is happy. You will usually need to call ahead and arrange a time to go.
Feedback: What is their system for sharing info on your baby day to day and their general development? Some nurseries even have online portals and cameras you can log in to see your baby in real time. It is also a good idea to try and speak to some current parents to check on their experience.
Home from Home: Based in the Peterborough Estate, small independent nursery offering shorter hours.
57 Filmer Road: Part of the Busy Bees chain, just off Fulham Road.
Parsons Green Nursery: Just off New King's Road, close to Parsons Green.
Fulham Day Nursery and Pre-School: Part of the Bright Horizons chain, close to Parsons Green tube station.
Madisson Nursery: On Fulham Road towards Putney Bridge.
Little Tug Boat: Close to Bishop's park on Finlay Street.
Beau Peeps: Small nursery close to Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway tube stations from 18 months of age.
Active Learning Fulham: Another Bright Horizons nursery, handy for the train from Imperial Wharf station.
Peques: Anglo-Spanish nursery with 2 location in SW6.
Millie's House: 3 locations in Fulham including New Kings Road.
Little People Fulham: On Lillie Road, close to top of Munster Road.
Crèches
These offer childcare for short periods. Many health clubs will offer them for their members so you can fit in a workout. Locally Harbour Club Chelsea and Virgin Active Fulham are very popular for this. Cupcake family club also offer this service to non-members too, info here.
Third Door in Putney offer a brilliant option of a flexible co-working space with a nursery on site. Check out all their options here.
