Officrèche Blog

How Flexible Childcare Can Work For You

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Elizabeth

These days we are all busy, right? And as busy parents, we need to know that we’re making the right decisions when it comes to childcare. Not only do we need to feel secure in the knowledge that our precious little ones are safe and being cared for well, but we also need to know that our arrangements benefit the whole family too. Getting this balance right isn’t always easy either. So how do you know if flexible childcare can work for you? Here are some quick tips and information to help you decide.

What does flexible working mean?

In a nutshell, flexible working means that your hours are flexible, to suit the needs of you family and the needs of your employer. Many working parents adopt to flexible hours so that their family commitments do not suffer on the return to work after baby is born. The Children and Families Act 2014 means that you now have the right to request flexible working- as long as you’ve been with your employer for at least 26 weeks and haven’t made a request for flexible working in the preceding 12 months.

If you’re working flexible hours, your days will be different from the usual 9-5. You will likely work a varying number of hours a day/ week and some of these hours could also be from home too.

How can flexible childcare work for you?

It can seem so confusing and more than a little daunting at first. But ultimately, your family needs are important, and so it makes sense to consider all of your options carefully when it comes to returning to work. Flexible childcare can work for most families, as long as you are all in agreement. Here are some tips for making it work:

• Talk to your partner about your intentions. Work it all through together and come to an arrangement that you know will work for your family. There will be no ‘one size fits all’ solution unfortunately, and chances are your situation will be completely different to other families working flexible hours. Once you and your partner are agreed, approach your employer with your proposed plans.
• Research your childcare options carefully. What is going to work best for your family? Are you able to visit various settings to get an idea of how they work? Make sure you set aside enough time before your return to work start date!
• Decide which childcare setting is best for you. Some families benefit from childminders, and some from a nursery setting. Others still will combine the two to get the best possible arrangement for their family. Again, this needs to be discussed and all options weighed up before you make any decisions.

Flexible childcare at OfficeCreche

We’re slightly different here at OfficeCreche because we offer a range of options for parents. Flexibility is our aim, as we know exactly what it’s like to be a busy working parent. You can choose to enter your child into our setting while you rent office space in the same building. You can use us as for flexible childcare and go off to work elsewhere. Or you can use us as a traditional childcare provider, with set hours that suit you. Ultimately, we want to work with you to find a solution that works.

Our OfficeCreche package allows you to pay as you go, so no need to pay a set amount each month. Alternatively, you can save money by subscribing to a bundle.

The FlexiCreche package allows you to still remain flexible with a set fee each month, plus the option to pay as you go as and when you need to.

Will it work for you?

If you need that flexibility, then yes! Ultimately, you need to know that your childcare is reliable, even if your shift patterns aren’t. Flexible childcare helps parents to ease back into the workplace at a pace that suits them and their family. It means that you can choose affordable and reliable childcare for your little ones. It also means that you you’re able to work through your requirements without the pressure of having to conform to someone else’s timetable.

Tags: childcare, Flexible childcare

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