DC attends a childminder who we are very happy with, for 2 days a week term time only.
I work 3 days a week. my 3rd working day is covered by grandparents. The childminder is unlikely to have space on that day for the next two years.
In 6 months’ time, a place will come up on one of my non working day. DC absolutely loves the childminder and it would cost us nothing and be covered entirely by the 30 hours funding. They go on fun trips and do everything & more that I’d do at home.
Would you send DC (almost 3 at this point) on your NWD? I feel partly guilty at the idea, and partly like it would greatly decrease stress and improve the quality of my other days off. I could get any housework done, food shop, any appointments (is this a luxury though?) and generally get on top of myself to make the long weekend feel more focused on DC and family time. I’d still have the weekend and one NWD with them. Also, it’s only term time childcare, so in the holidays I’d have DC with me on that day off anyway.
The thing that is stopping me is I reduced my hours after mat leave and took a pay cut to spend time with DC and not miss out on them.
Swapping my working days isn’t an option, I have exhausted that one.
Tia