Childcare options explained

19 Jun

Best Start Recruitment is committed to providing the best possible childcare or household staff for you and your family. We specialise in providing the following types of childcare (Click the appropriate role to reveal more information):

A Nanny is a professional, qualified and experienced childcarer with the experience and skills to provide, a safe, loving and stimulating environment for your child. A nanny should hold a DBS, excellent references and a paediatric first aid certificate.
The role of a Nanny:
A Nanny is responsible for feeding, washing, clothing, educating and stimulating children. The Nanny should also plan activities that enhance learning and development. Nannies are not usually responsible for general housework or chores, although they should clear up after the children (and themselves!) and you may wish to broaden their role with household tasks – so long as the nanny is prepared, able and happy to perform them.
Nanny hours:
With the change towards flexible working hours, many parents are now looking for part-time nannies. The option is now available to employ a nanny on a part-time basis, as a nanny will often work for more than one family. An average day for a nanny is 8am to 6pm, although many nannies do work a 12 hour day.
Cost considerations:
As the Nanny's employer, you are responsible for payment of their tax and national insurance contributions on top of the net amount your Nanny takes home. Our Nanny Tax section provides more information on these issues.
Nanny qualifications:
There are many different qualifications and childcare courses available to nannies. Please ask us we will be happy to provide you with our "qualifications explained" fact sheet.
Benefits of employing a Nanny:
The benefits of employing a Nanny are numerous. Along with the flexibility and bond your child will build with their Nanny, perhaps the most significant benefit is knowing that your child will feel secure in their own environment and that they are being given one to one specialist attention. You will also have far more control over the development of your child than if they were at Nursery as you will be able to direct and manage your Nanny as required. A good Nanny will also feedback to you on a regular basis about special moments and developmental issues and can easily maintain a diary of these events for you.
A Nanny Housekeeper is an experienced nanny who also has good cooking and home management skills plus the flexibility to manage the home and housekeeping - this role usually works best with children of school age.
The role of a Nanny Housekeeper:
As well as the fulfilling the role of a Nanny their duties also include all family washing and ironing, running errands, grocery shopping, changing bed linen, cleaning and generally running the home in the parents' absence.
Nanny Housekeeper hours:
A Nanny Housekeeper will typically work an average of 6 hours a day - often taking care of the household duties prior to collecting the children from school and then carrying out a more child focused role after the school-run and during the school holidays.
Cost considerations:
As the employer of your Nanny Housekeeper, you are responsible for their tax and national insurance contributions on top of the net amount they take home. Our Nanny Tax section provides excellent information on these issues.
Benefits of employing a Nanny Housekeeper:
This role offers great flexibility to working parents with school age children. A Nanny Housekeeper often works less hours during term time and their hours can then be increased during school holidays when the role becomes more child focused. A Nanny Housekeeper is often a nanny who has their own home and understands how to carry out household tasks.
Maternity Nurses are ideal for first time parents. Tigerlily childcare only supply experienced and qualified Maternity Specialists.
Our Maternity Specialists are dedicated to giving help and advice to a mother during the first few weeks following the birth of a new baby.
Maternity Nurses are ideal for first time parents, as they are able to help establish a routine with feeding and sleeping, and generally offering gentle guidance at a very special, but often daunting time.
A Maternity Nurse will give as little or as much hands on help that you need. Many Maternity Nurses offer 24 hour live-in help, and will be happy to take over some night-time feeds, giving parents a well-deserved rest.
A Maternity Nanny specialises in caring for newborn babies with older siblings. They are ideal for a parent who needs extra help, or is going back to work and requires sole charge for a small baby and another young child.