If you're a teacher (especially a single parent) what do you do for childcare?

[MushroomTree]

Posting here for traffic rather than on the staff room board.

I'm thinking about doing my FE teacher training but I have an 18 month old and am a single mum.

I know that teacher's work hours aren't school hours. Will I be able to get the childcare I'll need to be able to do my job?

Realistically I'm not wanting to teach in a college/6th form long term (I've got another plan and reason for wanting my PGCE FE) but I will at least need to get through my 1 year training.

Am I mad for thinking I can do it just using paid childcare?

I am a teacher, but don't need childcare. My issue would be that school breakfast clubs wouldn't allow me to get to work early enough. A childminder may start earlier, but I like to leave for work by 07:30 which would not be possible with my local childcare.

In your case, would you need to teach evening classes if in FE? In which case evening childcare may be an issue. Although I suppose you would call that a babysitter...

Childminder would be the best option in my opinion.

Look around at local childminders. That will be the safest option. I had a childminder who was happy to help me from 7am and who only charged me for term time (I think this might be rare though). Often your local council will have a list of registered child minders in your area.

I teach at college and the best thing about it is that it’s 9-4, I don’t need to be in college particularly early or late and so I can just use school wraparound care easily. They’re usually there 8-5 and obviously I don’t need holiday childcare regularly. I’d struggle more working in a school I think!

Thank you for your replies.

TheFifthKey that's really comforting to know. DD is in nursery two days a week 8-6 at the moment so my hope was I could get her in there full time. It was the care outside of that I thought I'd struggle with but working 9-4 is totally manageable.