Category: childcare

Nursery Jobs: Are You Cut Out for One?

Nursery jobs are, by some, considered to be unskilled jobs that anybody can do – this is not the case.  Nursery jobs come with plenty of challenges, and not everybody is cut out for working in a childcare setting.  Fun they may be, but nursery jobs are no easy option!

However, the rewards of nursery jobs are many, and if you are the kind of person who can adapt to nursery life, a nursery job might well be the perfect career option for you.

So, how do you know if you are cut out for one of the many nursery jobs that are available?

Do you like children?

This may be devastatingly obvious, but it’s an important point nonetheless – in order to be able to hack the daily hustle and bustle of a nursery, you will need to have some kind of passion for children and early years education.  With office jobs and the like, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t like your job much, as long as you can fulfil your tasks – with nursery jobs, enjoying your work (most of the time) is important.  After all, you’re dealing with little people every single day – little people who will need to be connected with you and who need you to have their best interests at heart.

Can you tolerate noise and chaos?

Good nurseries tend to be well-organised and run to a schedule.  In any facility where there are a lot of people in one place that need caring for, some kind of schedule is necessary.  However, children being children, things won’t always go to plan.  There will be moments that the nursery will be a chaotic environment, and you can guarantee that it will be noisy nearly all of the time.  Not everybody can tolerate such a busy and noisy environment, and nursery jobs require that you are able to stay calm and in control even if all hell is breaking loose.

Are you patient?

We all lose our temper sometimes, and you don’t have to be endlessly patient to be a great nursery worker.  However, you need to be able to be patient with the children – shouting at them is never okay.  We all have limits and that isn’t a bad thing, but you need to be self-aware enough to realise when you are approaching your limit so you can remove yourself from stressful situations before they escalate.

Do you have a sense of fun?

If you don’t enjoy playing and being silly, you certainly won’t enjoy working in a nursery.  Of course, there are plenty of other duties besides playing to undertake in nursery jobs, but playing is certainly one of the most important.  Small children learn through play, so being able to engage them in stimulating, creative activities is vital.  Having a sense of fun and a good imagination is important, as is not being afraid to make animal noises and dress up like a princess or a superhero in the presence of lots of children (and probably a few adults, too).

Bank Holidays

Bank Holidays 2020

2020 is upon us and it is always handy to have a list of the bank holidays for the year and what day of the week they fall on.

These are the dates of the bank holidays in 2020 for England.
1 January Wednesday New Year’s Day
10 April Friday Good Friday
13 April Monday Easter Monday
8 May Friday Early May Bank Holiday
25 May Monday Spring bank holiday
31 August Monday Summer bank holiday
25 December Friday Christmas Day
28 December Monday Boxing Day

 

If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a ‘substitute’ weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday.

It is worth noting that if nanny does not work 5 days a week that she is still entitled to bank holidays on a pro rata basis, for example if nanny only works 3 days per week then she is still entitled to 3/5ths of the 8 bank holidays whether her working day falls on a bank holiday or not.

Tax Year End Adjustments

As the end of the tax year approaches, are nanny’s payslips correct?

It is important to make sure that what is being submitted to HMRC is correct, and the P60 we will shortly produce is right.

Has nanny had a pay change that is not reflected on the payslip?

Have you given nanny a bonus recently?

Has nanny recently changed address or changed her name?

Always check nanny’s payslips as her tax code may have changed causing her net pay to differ

Blue Monday

Today is Blue Monday, supposedly one of the most depressing days of the year, based on the weather, debt, time since Christmas, lack of motivation and many other factors. Undoubtedly, we probably all feel a little low at this time of year for a whole host of reasons. But for those people that genuinely suffer with depression every single day Blue Monday is just another day to them.

Depression in adults is a condition we’re all familiar with. Most adults have at some point felt mildly depressed and a surprising proportion of the population has suffered from clinical depression, whether treated or not.  Although there is still a huge stigma around saying that someone as an individual is or has been depressed, it’s no longer the hidden condition it once was. Depression in children and teenagers, on the other hand, is much less widely acknowledged but potentially very serious.

What on earth do children have to be depressed about?

We may cast our minds back to the halcyon days of our own childhood and wonder what there is to become stressed and depressed about but firstly childhood was never that simple and secondly today’s children are facing an infinitely more complex world with shifting social norms, advancing technology and mounting media pressure. In Hollywood everyone is popular, rich and happy, the guy always gets the girl and we all live happily ever after. This can set up dangerous expectations for real life and if children can gorge on this constructed reality, they can end up feeling like they’ll never be good enough. If we’re honest with ourselves we were all anxious about school and schoolwork, keeping up with our friends and living up to parental expectations and today’s children are no different, even though the challenges they face are. It becomes more complicated when children become adolescents because the maelstrom of hormones, which leads to tears, tantrums, rage and rebellion, can mask depression – it all gets put down simply to being a teenager. It’s especially important at this time to watch out for anything out of the ordinary which continues over a lengthy period as it may point to a deeper issue.

How can I spot depression?

Knowing what is normal for your child or charge is key, and that can only be achieved by keeping the lines of communication open. It’s difficult when your efforts are met with angry rejection but keep letting them know you’re listening and do genuinely listen to what they say even if it seems insignificant to you. A constant refusal to communicate may be a sign that something is troubling them, but they don’t know how to talk to you about it. In this case be guided by your instincts and you may need to seek professional help along with your child. Although it may feel like a betrayal at the time, a child will get over that faster than untreated depression.

Surely my child is too young to be depressed.

 In fact, depression can hit children as young as 2 or 3 years old so there’s no such thing as too young. The number rises sharply in adolescence, with girls twice as likely to suffer as boys at this point. Rest assured, depression in very young children is likely to be the result of physical or emotional trauma and rarely manifests in healthy children with a secure attachment to their parents. Children who are at risk of depression, be it from chronic illness or emotional disturbances in their life, are likely to be offered additional help, perhaps in the form of play therapy or counselling.

That said, although depression in children is rare it’s important to remember that it does still exist and shouldn’t be discounted because of age.

How can I prevent depression?

There is no one way to prevent depression but setting an example of a healthy, realistic lifestyle is a good start. Plenty of exercise and fresh air along with a good diet will help keep the brain’s chemistry in balance and ensuring plenty of time for relaxation and play is vital for relieving stress. Good communication skills lay the foundation for open and honest exchanges about emotions and will safeguard your relationship throughout the difficult teenage years. It’s never too early to talk to children, be honest with them and accept them for who they are, encourage them to express their feelings and give age-appropriate explanations for what they see in the world around them.

Get into the habit of looking for the good in life. At the end of the day encourage children to focus on the good things that have happened and consider encouraging older children who don’t want to be tucked in any more to keep a positivity journal. The act of reflecting on what has gone well prevents a spiral of negativity and a journal can be a source of encouragement when times get tough.

For more information please visit www.youngminds.org.uk

Top 10 essential items every Nanny carries

Like every child is different, every Nanny and Manny are different, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are always prepared! Here are our top 10 essential items that every Nanny carries with them. What is your most essential item? Or What have we missed off our list?

  1. Mobile Phone with emergency contacts in – Mum, Dad, Grandparents, Neighbour, Doctor, Dentist, whoever is on your list make sure you have a plan of action if there is an emergency!
  2. Medical Information for each child. In the UK we have the Red Book which should contain all the vital info you need such as food allergies, medication, etc. But if you don’t have this then keep a note handy with all the details. If the child, you care for becomes ill the first questions you will be asked are ‘Is the child taking any medication’ ‘Does the child have any allergies’ Having this information to hand may save valuable time.
  3. First Aid Kit – You can buy a ready made one or simply carry the necessary items around with you such as Plasters, antiseptic wipes, safety pins, tweezers, gauze dressings, sterile eye dressings, crepe roll bandage, triangular bandage, disposable gloves.
  4. Tissues, wet wipes and hand sanitizer.
  5. Sunscreen and lip balm, even the most overcast days can require some protection from the sun, always better to be safe.
  6. Nappies (Or underwear if potty trained), Changing mat, wipes, cream disposable potty, – you never know when you might be caught out!
  7. Change of clothing, what child hasn’t rolled in the mud or been sick and needs to be changed.
  8. Healthy snacks – children are constantly hungry, ready prepared fruit, rice cakes, raisins, prepped veg and hummus. All great energy boosters if you have a flagging child.
  9. Bottled Water – Great for cleaning up a messy child or for a drink break through the day.
  10. Small toys and books, if you must queue, go on public transport of just keep a child occupied while you wait for something, having a toy or book handy will help deal with any boredom the child might feel.

What are the regulations if nanny is a student?

If nanny is a student, they will still be subject to paying Tax and NIC on their salaries like normal workers if they earn above their personal allowance, which for the current tax year (19/20) is £12,500.00 gross per annum (£1,041.67 gross per month).  If nanny’s earnings are below this threshold then they will not be subject to tax deductions on their salaries.

Nannies over the age of 16 will need to have Employee National Insurance deducted.

Nannies who are students and come from overseas will not be able to get a National Insurance refund if they return home, even if they work in the UK for a short period of time.

The only way a foreign student nanny could get exemption from National Insurance is to produce either an A1, E101 or E120 certificate from a European Economic Area (EEA)

If your student nanny leaves the UK to return to their native country during the tax year, they may be able to claim back some or all of the Tax which they may have paid on their salary in the UK.  They would need to complete and return a form ‘P85’ to HMRC, including parts 2 and 3 of their P45 from their current employment. If nanny, has worked in the UK for a full tax year, then they will not be able to claim back the Tax which they have paid on their earnings.

The P85 form can be obtained by contacting HMRC directly.

 

https://www.gov.uk/tax-right-retire-abroad-return-to-uk

Nanny and Private use of Car

If you have provided nanny with private use of a car, you need to inform HMRC straightaway. The quickest way is to complete a form P46 car

By notifying them straightaway, they will reduce nanny’s tax code the month she is given the car.

Failure to tell them when she has the car, will mean her tax code will be coded incorrectly causing an under payment.

Even though you have notified HMRC of the car via a P46 car, you will need to complete a P11d and pay Class 1A National Insurance on the benefit amount.

Please see link below

www.gov.uk/tell-hmrc-company-car

Get into the Christmas spirit with our top 5 festive books for children

Christmas is the perfect time to rekindle your child’s love of books and reading.

Children’s Christmas books are filled with happiness, wonder and strong morals. Reading is a simple, easy activity that can be enjoyed by children of all ages, no matter the weather.

Encourage them to learn by reading aloud or helping them to read along.

What are you waiting for? Pick up a book today and spark their imagination.

See below for our recommended top 5 festive children’s books!

Continue reading “Get into the Christmas spirit with our top 5 festive books for children”

30 Hours Free Childcare

The criteria for 30 hours for funded childcare, is that you must earn £131.36 a week which equates to 16 hours at the national minimum wage or Living Wage.

The 30 hours a week is for 38 weeks of the year and is for children who are aged 3 or 4 this equates to 1,140 hours per year.

You will not be able to claim this, if you or your partner has a taxable income of over £100,000, the child does not usually live with you, if the child is fostered or if you are from outside the EEA and it states you can’t access public funds on your UK residence card.

To register for funded childcare or for more questions:

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

RTI Real Time Information

RTI stands for Real Time Information and was introduced by HMRC in 2012. HMRC put this system into place so that every time an employee is paid, it is the employer’s responsibility to make a submission to them detailing this payment.

By employers using RTI, it enables HMRC to process any amendments to employee’s tax free allowance in real time rather than as done previously on previous years records and pass this information to Department for Work and Pensions. In turn this makes sure Universal Tax Credit claims are based on accurate figures of an employee’s income.

As an employer, if your payroll submission is not sent to HMRC on time, £100 fines will be issued. It is important as an employer to make sure all pay details are sent to HMRC on or before the date nanny is paid.