Going back to work worries when dd goes to school

[Natmomof1]

In a huge mess and not knowing what direction to go in.
I'm a single mother to one dd that will be attending school come September. Cant rely on dd's dad and my family all work full time. I worked for 7 years as a carer untill dd was 8 months old then I was made homless and im currently still in very expensive temporary accommodation (£900pm) actively looking for places but having no luck. Currently receiving uc.
Desperate to go back to work to provide a nicer life for us both. I have 3 main issues,
1 I am actively looking for work but struggling to find jobs that would work around school hours/holidays. Without support for childcare I'm stuck. I am not looking to go back into care again. Any advice on careers I'm willing to do anything to provide a better life for us.
2 although I know I'll get help with my rent and council tax etc this is one of my main worries as I don't want to be put back under financial hardship when all I want to do is better our lives. So any advice on what help I'd get in relation to this would be great.
3 we have been in this temporary accommodation house for neally 3 years with it been so close to the school dd is attending I worry that they could force us to move. Although family do work full time and couldn't help with after school pick ups they are my support an I don't want to be moved miles away from them to be ostracised.
We have both been through so much these last 4 years any advice would be appreciated.
I am terrified that I'm goin to mess everything up. I know it's going to be hard and been homless already I never want to end up in that dark place ever again.

Please be kind. Any advice I would appreciate

I am actively looking for work but struggling to find jobs that would work around school hours/holidays. Without support for childcare I'm stuck. I am not looking to go back into care again. Any advice on careers I'm willing to do anything to provide a better life for us.

The thing is, if you are a parent of a young child, whether as part of a couple or as a single parent, and you work, then you have to pay for childcare.
On one hand you say "I'm willing to do anything to provide a better life for us" but on the other are saying that you are only prepared to take work that is term time only and within school hours. A job like that is like gold dust and usually doesn't bring in enough money to survive on.

So, I think your first step is factoring in that you will need to pay for wraparound school care, unless you are thinking of training and setting up as a childminder.

You sound like you are doing well. Being homeless is the worst nightmare for so many people and you have come through the other side. So you know you are a strong woman, and you are also lucky enough to have a support network around you. You just have to be realistic about what you are looking to do.

Have you looked into training or eduction courses? Some provide free childcare while you study? Education is the key to getting off min wage jobs and going for a career.

Have you got maths & English GCSE? If you have you could apply for admin assistant jobs with the Civil Service, they are a very family friendly employer, you could work flexible hours around school & even term time only if you wanted. Salary isn't brilliant but is better than care work, full time employment hours are 37 hours & salary starts around £16k going up to about £19k, training is given & there are prospects for promotion. Google Civil Service jobs or drop a letter & CV to any local officer for temp work,they also do apprenticeships.

Is there a wrap around club at your child's school?

When you're a single parent you do have to find paid childcare as term time school hours only jobs don't really exist unless you work in a school. Look around for local childminders, school holiday clubs and wrap around care. I'm a single working parent and I have to pay for a breakfast club and holiday club as my family also all work full time. You will get most of it paid for by tax credits unless you're a high earner so don't worry too much about cost.

You will be much better off financially when you are working, I found this when I went back to work. You will still get some help towards housing benefit plus working tax credits which is much more than unemployment benefits. Plus your wages.

I'd get a job in a school if possible, kitchen staff or a TA etc.

My sister worked as a 1:1 teaching assistant while her children were young for this reason. Rubbish wages (£11k) but she could take her boys to school, pick them up and not worry about holiday care. Now they’re a bit older, KS2, she’s going back to uni to retrain as a nurse. She will be full time obviously, but better off by £7k a year and will have most of her childcare paid for as a student. Two options to consider?

You don't have to look for a job that fits in school hours. You find a job then arrange childcare. UC will pay up to 85% of childcare costs and to pay the first month up front you can ask your work coach about help from the flexible fund. In term time you use after school clubs or a childminder and the same in the holidays when you can't take leave from your job.

What everybody said. You use wraparound care and holiday club.

Once you child is at school you will be expected to look for work earning 25 x nmw.