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.

Seven pros of sensory play

Sensory play is a catch-all term for activities which focus on stimulating a child’s senses : hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch. It can involve messy play, singing and dancing, cooking or gardening to name just a few activities which have maximum sensory input.

Children learn best when multiple senses are stimulated. Songs are more easily remembered than poems because of the additional sensory stimulation the music provides. Memories can be provoked by smells or tastes. Sensory stimulation makes abstract ideas concrete.
Sensory play allows children to experiment. Experimentation is crucial for developing advanced cognitive skills such as analysing and predicting. It allows children to explore cause and effect and allows them to find solutions to problems.
Children control sensory play. By giving children materials which stimulate their senses and letting them get on with it they are able to make decisions and follow their own path, which gives them confidence to take control in other areas too. They may initially be afraid of slime or gloop but giving them time and space to experience it safely they are in control of the experience and will participate in their own time.
New experiences means new words to describe them. Sensory play is a goldmine for vocabulary and linguistic development. Children learn the meaning of adjectives such as warm and cold, sticky, smooth, slimy and hard as well as comparatives (bigger, smaller, runnier, rougher) and
lots of words to describe actions.
Sensory play enhances physical development. From dancing to music to trying to kneading dough or trying to pick dinasours out of slime, sensory play can be adapted to focus on specific motor skills or enhance overall motor development and hand-eye coordination.
You can do sensory play anywhere, any time. You don’t need a special table with a waterproof cloth to take part in sensory play. Even mealtimes can be an occasion to stimulate senses by identifying colours, smelling the different foods and experiencing taste and texture.
Sensory play is fun for adults and children alike. Make a bowl of gloop and try not to play with it. We dare you!

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

Direct Payments

If your child is disabled, you may be entitled to get Direct Payments through your local authority.

The first step is to contact your local council and request an assessment. If the outcome is that the child is need of support, you will be given a personal budget.

The personal budget should cover employer’s national insurance, fees for payroll, pension costs and holiday pay.

If the child is already receiving support through the local council, but you would like to change to Direct Payment this is possible. It is up to you if you would like the council to take responsibility of the support or if you do (Direct Payments).

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?

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!
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.
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.
Tissues, wet wipes and hand sanitizer.
Sunscreen and lip balm, even the most overcast days can require some protection from the sun, always better to be safe.
Nappies (Or underwear if potty trained), Changing mat, wipes, cream disposable potty, – you never know when you might be caught out!
Change of clothing, what child hasn’t rolled in the mud or been sick and needs to be changed.
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.
Bottled Water – Great for cleaning up a messy child or for a drink break through the day.
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

Childminders – How to Make Your Home Childcare-Friendly

Childminders take care of children in their own homes, so it’s important that your home is not only child-friendly and safe, but also suitable for childcare. Ensuring your home is correctly set up will make your life easier, and more enjoyable for the children in your care.

Following is a list of ideas you may like to use to help your home function as an efficient, yet still a home-from-home, childcare setting.

Toilet facilities

You may not have thought much about your toilet facilities before setting up as a childminder, but it is something that will need your attention. As a childminder, you will be looking after children of different age groups whose toileting needs may be different to one another.

Invest in a potty and a special toddler toilet seat for younger children to use whilst in your home, and have a pack of wet wipes and disposable nappies available for emergencies.
You may not wish to have a lock on the door that is accessible to small hands. Instead, provide a “do not disturb” sign that can be hung on the door whilst the toilet is in use by a child who wants privacy – and ensure that everybody knows what the sign means!
Liquid soap in a pump bottle is less messy, easier to use and more hygienic than traditional block soap.
A nice way to help children feel at home – and to help minimise the spreading of germs, particularly during this pandemic – is to provide individual hand towels for each child, or one if you can one use towel which you can wash and replace each day, hang them on a hook with their name above it. Inexpensive self-adhesive hooks can be bought from DIY shops, and sticky labels from anywhere that sells stationery.

Personal property box

Young children tend to come with a lot of extra baggage. Spare clothes, changing bags, sunblock, umbrellas and special toys may all be spending the day at your house too. When you find yourself minding three or four children, things can get pretty cluttered and crowded as you can probably imagine! Not all of us are lucky enough to live in large houses where a whole room can be dedicated to storing the children’s things, so you will need to be creative. A good way for childminders to get around this is purchasing some inexpensive plastic storage tubs and allocating one to each child you regularly care for. These can be placed in a row somewhere in the house and will help you stay organised. It will become part of the child’s routine to put any item they need to keep safe in the box, and to collect the contents of the box before leaving.

Dining cupboard

Younger children will probably require special plates, cups and cutlery to help them feed themselves. If you can, dedicating a separate cupboard to these things will make your life a lot easier when it’s lunchtime or snack time.

Overall, the most important thing to remember is to stay organised. The old saying, “a place for everything and everything in its place”, is very apt for those who are providing childcare in their homes. A little forward planning will make your life exponentially easier.

How to Keep your Nanny Happy

A good nanny is like gold dust. Once you’ve found a nanny you love – and your children love – you will want to do all you can to keep her. Keeping your nanny happy is important, and as her employer it falls on your shoulders to make sure she is treated fairly.

Following are some important points to remember as an employer of a nanny.

Trust your nanny

By employing her, allowing her to be with your children unsupervised and maybe even by having her live in your home, you have expressed your trust of her. If you then come home from work and quiz her about the day, question her discipline methods or otherwise act like you’re suspicious of her, she will quickly become frustrated. If you have a problem with the way that she is doing her job, it should be discussed openly and dealt with promptly. It is important for nannies, parents and children to be happy in their working relationship, so she would much rather discuss any issues you have in a professional manner.

Your nanny’s time is her time

If you have a live-in nanny, you must be firm about the boundaries that have been set. If your nanny works, for example, Monday to Friday 8-6, the weekends and evenings are her time. This means that the children shouldn’t be allowed to knock on her door, and she shouldn’t be called upon to work in any kind of capacity. Having said that, your nanny may not mind the children popping in to see her on a Saturday morning, and if she’s not busy she might not have a problem with watching them whilst you pop to the shops quickly, but these boundaries should be set in advance. Again, open and honest discussion from the start is key to a happy working relationship.

Leave the home how you would like it left

Nannies are not usually employed as housekeepers too, but just as a stay-at-home parent would, she will pick up after herself and the children throughout the day, leaving the house in a respectable state for when you arrive home to take over. In return, it is not too much for her to expect the house to be left in the same way for her when she arrives to work in the morning. It is not fair to expect your nanny to arrive to a sink full of dirty dishes and the school uniforms in the laundry basket needing to be ironed.

Make your nanny feel valued

Your nanny is your employee, but she is also a valued member of your family. If she feels unappreciated, she will likely look elsewhere for work. It is not difficult to show your appreciation of her without crossing professional boundaries. Offering a bonus once or twice a year is a great way to make her feel important – this could be a monetary bonus, or some extra paid holiday time. Little things, like remembering her birthday and having the children make cards for her, will really make your nanny feel as though she is a welcome and valued member of your family.

Keeping hold of a good nanny is important, and not just for your own convenience. Having a constant stream of different caregivers is not good for children, who need to form attachments to those who look after them.