I'm a single parent, my DD is 10 and isn't in school full time due to her additional needs. She is only going for 1.5 hours 3 days a week and I don't see this changing any time soon for complex reasons. The LA also send a home tutor for 3 hours twice a week and school send work home so apparently this means she is getting a full time education 
I have had to give up work as you can imagine! But I want to start up as self employed in the field I used to work in. I know it's a viable idea but I'd need childcare.
Can I claim childcare element of UC to pay for specialist child care during school hours? I know someone who would do the work, they're a registered nanny with free time in the day. But I don't know if I'd be able to claim for this because children of 10 would be expected to be in school if that makes sense? No way can I afford it otherwise, we currently live on benefits (carers allowance and disability allowance plus some UC) and childcare would cost £15 an hour as she can't just go to a childminder or a club, she needs 1-1 care from someone trained in her needs at all times.
I'm asking on MN because I don't want to start poking the bear so to speak with the benefits people, I don't want them to decide this means I can work when I am in no way ready to work full time, I just want to try working part time and see if I can manage it!