School Year Only Nanny (I am a teacher)

[Anonymous]

I have two kids who will be 4 and 2.5. The 4yo will be in preschool T-Fri AM and the 2.5 year old will be in preschool T/TH AM. I want someone to work 7-3 M-F, but only during the school year. I don’t need the nanny on any holidays, including two weeks and Christmas and a week of Spring Break (paid). However, I don’t need care over the summer. I can get coverage for the few days I need to work outside of when school is in session. What is the ballpark rate for a nanny with some experience in the NOVA? Will anyone even want this job? Someone who wants to go back to their country in the summer? So I would be offering 3 weeks paid plus federal holidays, but not in the summer.

[Anonymous]

I know some nannies who have jobs like this. Be forewarned: it is actually legal for them to claim unemployment in the off months. I don't know how many people are aware of this, but seasonal lay-offs are a qualifying reason.

Some people offer lower year-round pay and in return fully guarantee that the entire summer (or however many weeks) will be off. Others find people willing to find summer gigs.

What time do you get out of school that you'll consistently be home by 3, though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some nannies who have jobs like this. Be forewarned: it is actually legal for them to claim unemployment in the off months. I don't know how many people are aware of this, but seasonal lay-offs are a qualifying reason.

Some people offer lower year-round pay and in return fully guarantee that the entire summer (or however many weeks) will be off. Others find people willing to find summer gigs.

What time do you get out of school that you'll consistently be home by 3, though?

I teach at an FCPS middle school...they start at 7:30 and get out at 2:15. It is ungodly early. The upside is that I get home early and that a nanny could potentially pick up hours as an afternoon nanny to elementary aged kids.

[Anonymous]

Hourly rate will depend on how much experience/education nanny has, your location, and whether there are any special circumstances (wahd, special needs, housekeeping). Minimum would probably be $20, but you might be able to find someone for $15 cash if they have no prior experience.

[Anonymous]

This might appeal to a mom with older children (elementary and above) who wants a job, but also wants to be off all the times her children are off (spring break, summers, etc.) You might need to be a little flexible in allowing her to bring her own kids along on days where teachers have to work but the students are out of school.
She also might not have professional nanny experience, but plenty of personal hands on experience with kids.

I actually have a neighbor that does this, though the teacher brings her children to my neighbors house.

Otherwise, I don't think you'll likely find many experienced professional nannies who will be willing to take that much time off unpaid.

[Anonymous]

I nannied for a teacher in undergrad, and now I'm a teacher myself. Guaranteeing the breaks (Christmas, Spring, etc.) is definitely necessary, as well as any extra holiday days that you are off (Yom Kippur, Veteran's Day, etc.)
As for the summer, you need to guarantee her hours or accept that she will likely be a September-June employee and that you'll have to look again for the following school year. Unless your nanny is married (or similar situation) and doesn't rely on her income to pay her bills then she won't be able to afford this, regardless of how much she likes the job.

[Anonymous]

OP here: What if I found someone that will have a rising K kid and older and won’t need their nanny during the year or need afternoon care and then they use her in the summer? My issue is that I don’t actually need to work a summer job (or really this teaching gig either, but that is a separate story) and really want to be home with my kids during that time. We can afford to pay someone a decent rate ($20-23hr), but I’m really stuck on paying for weeks and weeks of hours that I don’t need. I had my kids at a center amd hate it. They are thriving in AM preschool, but I miss working.

[Anonymous]

You are being unrealistic. Just like you rely on your paycheck, they rely on one too so to pay just on your schedule for most isn't going to work for most nannies. Pay for school before/after care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are being unrealistic. Just like you rely on your paycheck, they rely on one too so to pay just on your schedule for most isn't going to work for most nannies. Pay for school before/after care.

I agree with this, OP. Stay home for another few years.

[Anonymous]

Nannies are hourly employees and not paid very much. They are also stupid and would jump at the opportunity to not be paid for major holidays and summer vacations. I would imagine that nannies will be beating down your door for this job. You are an idiot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: What if I found someone that will have a rising K kid and older and won’t need their nanny during the year or need afternoon care and then they use her in the summer? My issue is that I don’t actually need to work a summer job (or really this teaching gig either, but that is a separate story) and really want to be home with my kids during that time. We can afford to pay someone a decent rate ($20-23hr), but I’m really stuck on paying for weeks and weeks of hours that I don’t need. I had my kids at a center amd hate it. They are thriving in AM preschool, but I miss working.

This, you might find. I'm not sure where to tell you to post to look, though.

I do think you'll be more successful if you can solve the summer problem for the nanny.

You might really do well if you can find a nanny who would be willing to do it as a share on random days off during the school year, like weather days and teacher work days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nannies are hourly employees and not paid very much. They are also stupid and would jump at the opportunity to not be paid for major holidays and summer vacations. I would imagine that nannies will be beating down your door for this job. You are an idiot!

A lot of people need summer nannies. It's actually not that unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people need summer nannies. It's actually not that unusual.

I was thinking this. Your nanny might well be able to find a summer position -- parents who use aftercare during the school year but need childcare over the summer. But the big risk is that your nanny finds a new, full-time/year-round job over the summer and doesn't return. I'm not sure how you inoculate against that, other than by being a great employer. Maybe having guaranteed hours, with the school breaks being paid vacations? And helping her find summer positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people need summer nannies. It's actually not that unusual.

I was thinking this. Your nanny might well be able to find a summer position -- parents who use aftercare during the school year but need childcare over the summer. But the big risk is that your nanny finds a new, full-time/year-round job over the summer and doesn't return. I'm not sure how you inoculate against that, other than by being a great employer. Maybe having guaranteed hours, with the school breaks being paid vacations? And helping her find summer positions?

OP here, yes, this is what I am afraid of. That I would be looking for a new nanny every fall. To the snarky “you are an idiot” posted above, I would be giving 3 weeks of paid vacation plus major holidays paid from September-June. But thanks foe your super helpful response!

I guess I will start by asking around the neighborhood to see if anyone has a nanny and a kid entering K next year/won’t need their nanny except in the summers. I live right next to a university, so maybe someone pursuing a degree in the evenings would be game...although maybe not the experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies are hourly employees and not paid very much. They are also stupid and would jump at the opportunity to not be paid for major holidays and summer vacations. I would imagine that nannies will be beating down your door for this job. You are an idiot!

A lot of people need summer nannies. It's actually not that unusual.

Our whole bethesda neighborhood listserv is filled with nannies, au pairs, graduate students, college students able to nanny, drive or babysit all summer!