There is no doubt about it: 2020 has been a year of surprise and change. Parents have had to get creative in how they care for and school their children, in addition to adjusting their own career schedules to make it work. Nanny shares and learning pods are two effective methods that parents are using around the country to provide quality education and care for their kids.
What is a Nanny Share?
A nanny share means that two or three families hire one nanny and split her childcare services among them. For example, each family has 1 child and the nanny takes care of all 3 kids at once during the day. The families split her wage, which makes it more affordable for each family. The nanny’s hourly wage is usually slightly higher because of the increased workload, but because the cost is split among families, it is still less expensive to each family than hiring a personal nanny.
When using a nanny share, communication among families is key. You will need to draft a work agreement immediately, which ensures that the nanny and the families are on the same page. The work agreement should include key components such as duties and expectations, paid time off designation, wage and overtime information, transportation details, and allocations on where she is to provide childcare services.
What is a Learning Pod?
Online schooling has become the norm for many school districts this autumn and beyond. However, many students learn best in person. For this reason, many families are turning to learning pods. Teaching is provided by parents or a private in-home educator groups of 3 to 10 children in one location or in multiple homes. Like a nanny share, families split the cost of the private education.
These groups are beneficial in many ways, too. They provide socialization for students, more individualized instruction time, and personalized lesson planning. Different families can have different expectations on what the learning pod will be, so be sure to work with neighbors and friends who are likeminded in what they want. Details matter in a learning pod environment. Communicating with other parents, the students involved, and the teacher ahead of time about the details is key.
Nanny shares and learning pods offer a variety of benefits, especially in today’s current environment. Our experienced team at HomeWork Solutions understands that the decision to hire an in-home employee is a big one. That’s why we’re here to help. It’s easy to sign up and you’ll have your financial bases covered without lifting a finger.
Download our Top Tips for both Nanny Shares and Learning Pods here. Or call our team of experienced specialists for a free consultation on your situation at 877-757-8278.