A nanny may pick up from förskola (municipal preschool, from age one) if you as the child's guardians have registered her with the section, usually with her name, phone number and ID the first time. The shift is typically three hours: pick-up at half past three, a snack, play and dinner until you get home. The pick-up is covered by the RUT deduction when it is part of childcare in the home.
The preschool in Solna closes at half past five. The train from Centralen leaves at quarter past five if the meeting ends on time, which it does not. That is the everyday reality many Stockholm parents live in: a preschool that closes half an hour before it is possible to be there. A nanny who picks up from preschool is the most common service we provide, and the one that makes the biggest difference to daily life. Here is how it works in practice.
What the preschool needs from you
A preschool will not hand a child over to anyone they do not know you have approved. It is a good rule, and it applies to the nanny too. What you do is register her as authorised to collect. How that is done varies: some preschools have a list in the hallway, others want it in writing to the section, others again use their digital system. Ask your section.
- The nanny's full name and phone number
- Which days she picks up, if they are fixed days
- That she shows ID the first time, and ideally that you come along that time
- Who should be called if the child is ill or if something happens during the day: you, not the nanny
- Whether the nanny may also collect siblings from another section or from fritids (after-school care)
Give notice in good time. A preschool that gets a call at three o'clock saying a new person is coming at four is quite right to say no.
What a pick-up shift looks like
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15.30 | The nanny is at the preschool. A little earlier the first few times, so the child can finish playing in peace |
| 15.45 | Walk or cycle home, often via a playground if the weather allows. For the child it is often the best part of the day |
| 16.15 | Snack at home. Something you have decided on, or something the nanny makes from what is there |
| 16.30 to 17.30 | Play, a book, a bath or crafts. No screens, unless you have said otherwise |
| 17.30 | Dinner as you have left it, or preparing it, so you can eat as soon as you get home |
| 18.00 to 18.30 | You come home. The nanny tells you how the day has been and leaves |
Three hours sounds a lot for a pick-up, but that is where the value is. A shift that only covers half past three to half past four means you still have to run from work. A shift that stretches to six means you can finish your day, travel home in peace and arrive to a dinner that is already on the table.
The same person every time, or it does not work
Pick-up is the situation where an unfamiliar nanny works worst. The child is tired after a long day at preschool and is suddenly expected to go off with someone they do not know. That is why we only do pick-up shifts with the same nanny every time. The child knows who is coming on Tuesdays, the staff know who she is, and you know that she knows where the house key is.
The first time, do come along. The nanny arrives at the preschool with you, the child sees that you know her, and the staff get a face to go with the name. The second time it almost always goes without questions.
What does it cost, and what does RUT give you?
Pick-up is booked as a regular arrangement, and the price depends on how many hours a week it adds up to. Two pick-ups of three hours is six hours a week. The price then sits between 199 kr an hour (occasional bookings) and 165 kr an hour (full-time), all after the RUT deduction. One child and two children cost the same. You get the exact price at the free first meeting, and the full price list is on the prices page.
RUT (the Swedish tax deduction for household services) is 50 per cent of the labour cost. Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency) counts drop-off and pick-up at preschool and school as part of the childcare, as long as it is connected to childcare in the home and the child is twelve or younger. A nanny who only collects and drops off at the preschool gate without being at home with the child falls outside it, but nobody wants that arrangement anyway. We take the deduction off the invoice directly.
Practical things that make the shift easier
- A key of her own for the nanny, so nobody has to hide keys under the mat.
- The snack decided in advance, or the freedom to choose. Say which, so she does not have to guess.
- Screen rules, written down. It is the first thing children test with a new adult.
- The note with your numbers, the preschool's number, any allergies and what applies if you are running late.
- What applies at the playground: may the child go to the park round the corner, may they cycle, may they climb the big climbing net.
- How you want the report: a text when they are home, a note on the table or just a chat when you get in.
How we do it with our families
Nike picks up two children in Sundbyberg on Mondays and Thursdays, a three-year-old at preschool and a seven-year-old at fritids a ten-minute walk away. She does the preschool first, because the three-year-old falls asleep if she has to wait. On the way home they stop at the same playground every time, for twenty minutes at most, because any longer and there are tears at dinner. At home she puts out the snack written on the note, and the seven-year-old does homework at the kitchen table while the three-year-old builds. When their mother comes in at six, the pasta is on the hob and Nike says two sentences about the day before she leaves. It is the same set-up every week, and that is why it no longer asks anything of the parents.
Would you like a nanny who comes on the same days every week and whom the children know? Book a free first meeting with the nanny at your home, and we will work out a quote for your hours.
Read more: Preschool in Stockholm · The note for the babysitter · A nanny instead of after-school care · Prices
Frequently asked questions
Can a nanny pick up from preschool?
Yes, if you as the child's guardians have approved her. The preschool wants her name and phone number in advance, often a photo or for the nanny to show ID the first time. How it is registered varies between preschools, so ask your section what they want.
Does preschool pick-up qualify for the RUT deduction?
Yes. Skatteverket counts drop-off and pick-up at preschool, school and leisure activities as part of the childcare when it is connected to childcare in the home. The deduction is 50 per cent of the labour cost and applies to children up to and including the age of twelve.
How long does a pick-up shift take?
Usually two and a half to three hours: pick-up at half past three or four, a snack, play or the playground, and dinner or dinner preparation until you get home at six or half past. Shorter shifts become stressful for both the child and the nanny.
Can the nanny collect siblings from different places?
Yes, that is common: one child at preschool and one at fritids. We set up the shift so the times work, and the nanny knows both children. One child and two children cost the same with us.
What happens if the nanny is ill on a pick-up day?
She lets both us and you know as soon as possible. If you would like a replacement we do our best to arrange one; if none is available, or you would rather not have one, the shift is cancelled and you are not charged. For families with pick-ups several days a week, we recommend having two nannies who both know the children and are both registered with the preschool.