Giving up work when no childcare is available

[Ddds]

hi. Im thinking of giving up work as I cannot get time off work when there is no childcare eg Christmas and Easter, im used to relying on family but due to their illness I cant rely on them any more. I've never been out of work so i don't know what happens. My Daughter is 5 and in year 1. Im presently on working tax credit and child tax credit and I've seen if I changed over to universal credit I will lose out on about 50 a month but even more leaving work. But with my daughter being in education am I allowed to not work? I'm a single parent and my daughters dad works away and is only home 2 evenings a week so can't rely on him. So is it worth it? Who's done it? Is there any point.. i have no idea what to do for best right now.

I don't understand why you're giving up work? You'd be worse off

I'm single too. I don't have family to help. Mine goes to wraparound care. The tax credits help with this.
I don't know if you work full or part time but if you do work full you could reduce your hours so there's less to pay for at wraparound care.

In any case when your child is that age you have to work so you wouldn't get away with this anyway

Can't you use holiday clubs and your parental leave allowance, everyone is entitled to 18 weeks unpaid leave per child before they turn 18, so you could use that to cover any gaps in annual leave/holiday club.

Hi that makes sense, I only work part time, the problem I have is I have to work through Christmas and easter as these are peak times for retail but also this is when childcare in this area ends. I can cope through oct half term and feb half term etc but its the times when everything closes and everyone still expects everything off me. Yes im spending my time worrying about 2 weeks of a year. Thank you.

I’m afraid I have no suggestions about what to do about childcare, other than wondering if your child’s dad can take some holiday At those times to have her?

If you really can’t find any childcare, at least leave it til a month before Xmas to hand in your notice, and literally leave the day school holidays start. I believe everyone is entitled to ask for unpaid parental leave, a certain number of weeks per year, so it might be worth requesting that first, and making it clear that if declined you’ll have to leave anyway.

Sorry it sounds really shit. Can you look for a job in a different sector where you can take holiday at those times more easily?

This sounds hard

Have you explained the problem to your employer? Just because if you quit you'll be worse off and not everyone has family that can look after them and if holidays clubs are closed on bank holidays what can you do. It would be better for them to understand this and keep you on

I would see if you can change to a different type of work. What sort of skills do you have?

Is it worth looking for other employment?

Echo above posters re: parental leave. Unfortunately I'd imagine most employers would postpone the time if it's embargoed. Your best bet is to look for work somewhere that is closed on Bank Holidays.

What about a childminder? That’s what I use and I take my AL to fit in with hers, she works Easter, Christmas etc maybe with the odd week off at Easter and maybe 2 in the summer

Thank you everyone! Im looking in to parental leave now, i didn't know about that but it could actually help! I dont want to let my employer down but this helps. Im retail only, havent trained in much else.. maybe I should look at retraining while I work in classroom assistant etc.. thank you all so much!

Just be wary about parental leave...employers can postpone it for business reasons so chances are if you cant take holiday at those times, they will also refuse parental leave and defer it to a non busy time which presumably wont be school holidays.

Look for a new job while you are in work. Don't leave work without exhausting every possibility.

Consider a childminder and save for the costs now.

You can also book ad hoc day care via sites like childcare.co.uk look up your area and see who is available. You might be able to get a few days here and there which would see you over the busy period.

We looked into this as an option to provide in our home childcare during the school holidays and lockdown. Normally we'd have used a holiday club.

Find a reputable 6th former and hire them. When I was in S6 I provided after school care and holiday care for three boys. I loved the pocket money and the parents loved me!

Don't forget that you can still get support for child care costs if you are in receipt of Child Tax credit. As long as its Ofsted registered. This opens up options like a child minder ( lots do after school and holiday cover) or part-time Nanny, whilst expensive would be better than loosing your job.

I have 3 kids and everyone thought it was posh having a nanny do the school run.... little did they know that I was getting 70% back...

I would have been roughly on the same income on benefits, but I kept my job/career going and a sense of pride.

Good luck!