How Flexible Are (Private) Childcare Centres?

[Bathsheba]

It all depends on the centre. But flexibility depends on if a centre can fill each place. If you are going to need a certain combination are they going to find another family to fit in with you (like a jigsaw puzzle).

I would look into a centre that offers occassional care. They ususally have more flexibility. I use a centre that offers half days through occassional care... but you have to ring a week in advance.

[fionas]

OK, I've just asked one childcare centre but from what you've all said this will pretty much be standard.

They said they don't do part-days but obviously you can drop them off and collect them whenever you like.

They also do in-home care (for $20 per hour) which is great but you can't really mix in-home care with daycare. Because I was starting to get excited thinking we'd put her in for the two full days when we're both working days and then get an in-home carer for 3 days x 3 hours for the days when DP is on afternoon shift. But she said most people want daycare on a set number of days per week, hence they wouldn't have 'gaps' for the alternate weeks.

So essentially, our choice at that particular centre seems to be 5 days care in the centre per fortnight (with some of those being half-days or less) OR 2 full days in-home care one week and then 3 x 3 hours the next week.

There's pros and cons to each. In-home care would be great but I need to find out how flexible they will be with start/finish times because DP's shifts are all over the place and he only really finds out the week beforehand. It does mean, however, that DD will get one-on-one care with the same carer with the added bonus that we won't have to worry about drop-offs or collections. Plus, because they're an approved centre we still get the childcare benefit/rebatey thing plus, in turn, the tax rebate for out-of-pocket expenses.