Could anyone talk me through childcare arrangements

[GrubbsGrady]

My head feels like it is going to explode working all this out 😫 backstory: im a single mother currently on UC due to covid and i cant go back into my old job because it no longer exists thanks to covid! so im looking to retrain in Healthcare for which id need to go to university and study. DS is currently 10 months so i have a while yet till i can apply for the free childcare for 2yr olds to be able to get him into childcare...this is where its all confusing me! So from what ive read online about the scheme they don't pay out straight away it takes a few weeks to come through a bit like a UC claim ? And that its only for 38 weeks out of 52? Does that mean i will need to fund the first month or so myself while the money comes through for it ? And im worried about childcare letting me down ie childminder/nursery cancelling his spot for the day last minute and me not being able to work/study that day as i have no support or anyone to watch him besides a childcare setting do they do that ? Sorry if this all seems a bit garbled hope it makes some sense! Tia from one very confused alone mum!

Hello,
I can’t help with the initial payment as I’m not sure about that.
Just wanted to say from experience having a childminder might make things more difficult for you as they can be off at short notice and have holidays when you might need to be working. You would probably be better off with a nursery as this wouldn’t effect your childcare as they have more staff.
With the hours for three year olds you can spread them over the 52 weeks, having less hours each week, I’m guessing it would be the same for two year olds. Good luck hope you can get the childcare that you need to start your studying!

Thanks its a total minefield i think ill give UC a call and see if theres any benefit i can claim towards the cost on top of the free hoursoi wouldn't be able to afford nursery prices otherwise but like you say childminders who are self employed do soumd flaky and unreliable and without a relative or friend to fall back on for last minute help it would probably get me fired if it happened a lot

If you’re looking to train in healthcare have you thought that you might be required to do placements during unsociable hours such as nights, weekends and bank holidays? Nurseries are closed during those times whereas Childminder’s tend to be a little more flexible? Something worth considering maybe

I have had 2 child minded for my children for 13 years and have only once been let down at the last minute. They are more affordable. Offer home environment. A d more Flexible i hours/days they are available.

UC cover up to 85% of my child care cost. I have to pay this first and send a copy of my invoice a d bank statement. To prove it's been paid. I don't know if it's the same if you are studying.

I was a single mum on benefits and DS had the free childcare when he was 2. I was on the old style system so it may be different under UC but these are the basics when I claimed it -

It's 15 hours a week. If you want your DC in for more hours then you will have to pay for it, but if you are working then you will get help with around 75% of the costs.

You do not have to pay anything upfront. The nursery or childminder will claim it from the government. I paid nothing at all at any point.

You don't get to choose the times or days, they are allocated to you. DS did afternoons 5 days a week, 12pm-3pm.

It is term time only so you do not get the free hours in the school holidays, if you want them you will have to pay.

There is no reason a nursery would cancel a session, a childminder might if they were ill or on holiday but a nursery will have staff to cover so you might be better off using a nursery.

Hope this helps.

I wont be at uni or in the hospital for at least 3yrs yet i need to brush up on my basic quals to get on to the HE access course for UCAS point to get into uni so hopefully by the time that comes about ill have some overnight care for when im working nights in the hospital etc. So i would need to save up to foot the cost of childcare till the UC receive my first invoice @unicornsarereal72? Id also be working by then @waxonwaxoff0 even just part time while studying so i would need childcare around that not just willy-nilly allocated hours i assume they did that for you as your unemployed?
Thanks for the help so far everyone slowly making sense to me now im rubbish at maths to so its a nightmare working it all out

Yes, I was unemployed at the time but they won't make allowances to fit around your studies with the free hours. If you need specific hours you will probably have to pay but as a single parent you can claim the majority of the costs from Universal Credit.

The standard it 15 hours, which kicks in the term after your child is 3. The setting is paid directly. This is funded term time only.

The top up to 30 hours is the same as above, but my understanding is it is for if all parents in the household are working. I don’t think you’d qualify for 30 if studying. You have to set up a HMRC childcare account to access this. Everyone is entitled to 15.

There is some 15 hour funding for 2 year olds if you are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits.

I used the 15 free hours from 3 years old. I was working full time so didn't technically matter what hours were free as I paid the remainder anyway. The nursery offering 9-12 Monday to Friday or 1-4pm Monday to Friday. You didn't get to pick your own hours. My childminder friend offers the same, and yes term time only so you'll fund the entire amount in the holidays plus anything over the 15 hours in term time.
I understand UC cover up to 85% of childcare when working, but full time study I wasn't sure if they did? I thought that's why they took your student loan into account in the calculations for UC entitlement?

Yes you need to pay your child care up front and uc will refund you up to 85%.

@Freezedriedromance i wont have a student loan till i start uni the first 3 courses i need to do to access uni are all online paid for by myself so not sure if it will be counted as studying if im doing it all at home when i have days off or evenings ? I start my first course in February 2021