Mumpreneur Nicky Grant has launched www.afterschoolcare.co.uk, a web-based venture that seeks to match working mothers with enthusiastic and experienced child carer providers.
As well as nannies, nursery nurses and teachers, the site also attracts students, part-time workers and grandmothers with a wealth of experience raising children – and a bit of time to spare.
After School Care was set up by Nicky in Buckinghamshire in response to her own experience, and research, indicating that working women with school-aged children don’t want to employ a full-time nanny and are increasingly looking for part-time care before and after school.
“The credit crunch has meant that everyone has had to look again at cutting costs and a lot of mothers who work and have school aged children no longer want to pay for fulltime childcare,” says Nicky.
“They need to cover the time before and after school only. Mothers are struggling to find people with that kind of availability and they are reluctant to pay the large introduction fees that nanny agencies charge. There are a lot of carers – particularly older women who can fill that need.
“Equally for the carers it can give them an extra bit of income at a time when money is short. After School Care really meets both sides needs.â€
After School Care is free to join (for carers) and they can simply register their details (location and availability) online. Parents can register their own details and see the carers that are available in their area – if they want to contact a childcare providser, they pay a nominal fee of £10 per month, which gives them unlimited searches within a 30-day period.
After School Care is a matching service, so it is the parents’ responsibility to check for any references and experience before using a childcare provider. If you would like some tips and advice on using childcare, make sure you purchase our guide, The Working Parent’s Stress-Free Guide to Finding Good Childcare.
