To be surprised at the cost of childcare

[RueDesIrlandais]

For primary age kids!

Yes, I am being U. Yes, I should have known this and researched it more and I actually probably am not even truly surprised, but I am a bit deflated.

I was basically a sahm for years, following redundancy after I had my first baby. I've been doing little part time jobs since then, like dinner lady at a school and in hospitality.

I've just been offered what I would call a proper job, but it is in a school, so term time only and finishing at the end of the school day. I was so, so excited to be offered it.

I've just looked at after school care which I would need, just for about 45 minutes, and I could cry. It means I will be making approximately the same after childcare as I was was I was a dinner lady! With the added downside that dcs will have to do ASC which they don't exactly love and I'll be working from drop off till pick up so no time to do anything in the house.

I've started now looking at full time jobs in offices which obviously means even more time in childcare for dcs, but the financial return would be potentially worth it.

I had convinced myself that "once they reach primary school" childcare costs wouldn't wipe out my salary and I'm a bit bummed that doesn't seem to be the case.

Aibu and has anyone had similar?

And if I can be very cheeky and ask people who aren't on mega bucks and who work full time weekdays; how much are you spending on breakfast club, after school care and holiday clubs every year? Trying to decide what to do.

How much would childcare be?

Before and after school care varies depending on the area and what type of care it is, so asking others for advice isn't going to be helpful to your situation.

Unless your kids have sen/ additional needs, then you just pay until they can be at home by themselves

Do you have a partner who can be flexible with their work to support with pick ups?

This is hardly news. So you are being unreasonable.

Hi @Whinge

I have two children, so the cheapest option is circa £40 per day for both ASC and breakfast club. If I could cut out breakfast club, that would drop to £25 per day; it wouldn't be ideal, but possibly doable. That would be £125 per week, for 39 weeks in the year.

I guess this is about average for childcare, but we are in the outskirts of London, which may not help?

It does help to discuss it with other parents. I appreciate nobody can know my precise circumstances though and I don't expect that sort of personalised advice. It's just a forum after all.

If I were to pay full price wraparound for my two would be £120 per week, we use the tax free scheme so whatever I put in the government account is topped up by 20%

Depends on what the job is you've been offered. If it's a TA or receptionist then it's a non starter, but if it's an office role, it's always worth asking about the hours. Could you start at 8 and finish in time to do pick up? Breakfast club is usually cheaper than after school club.

Or work 2 longer days using ASC, then 3 shorter days where you can do pick up?

What about using a childminder instead of ASC? Could work out much cheaper for you.

@anniegun

This is hardly news. So you are being unreasonable.

Thanks; I never said it was news. I even said it in my op that I know I should have known but just feel a bit deflated.

@girlmom21, my dh can do drop off but not pick up. He would do it happily, but the bigger cost is ASC, so it would still knock out a lot of my salary. I know it's a joint expense, but his salary covers everything else, mortgage, bills etc. So this would probably want to come out of my salary.

@wizzywig, that would be about 7 years. I don't know if I want to be making the same (net) as I was as a dinner lady working one and a bit hours per day when I'll be working all week if that makes sense. I'm all for just taking the hit in the short term if it means long term gain, but this is not a highly paid job and is not likely to become one.

Thinking, would I be better off working in something private sector, sending kids to All The Childcare and hoping my salary is big enough to make that worth it.

I love working and will always work because I'd go mad without it. I went back to waitressing shortly after each baby was born, even though my previous career qualified me for other things, just because I wanted to work. So it isn't lack of work ethics

@OnTheBenchOfDoom

What about using a childminder instead of ASC? Could work out much cheaper for you.

The only childminder who collects from my dc's school is amazing but almost double what ASC is. That's the more expensive option I mentioned in my op!

I work full time. There's no breakfast club at my son's school, but I can drop off at 8pm. ASC is £2 per half hour - which is £4 per day for him, so £20 a week. It's the holiday club that are ridiculously expensive. Around £40-£43 per day here if you want one for the entire day. It makes it all very expensive. Thankfully, we only have one child, but it's a big outgoing - especially covering the long summer holidays.

@xyzandabc

Depends on what the job is you've been offered. If it's a TA or receptionist then it's a non starter, but if it's an office role, it's always worth asking about the hours. Could you start at 8 and finish in time to do pick up? Breakfast club is usually cheaper than after school club.

Or work 2 longer days using ASC, then 3 shorter days where you can do pick up?

Yes, it's a TA and start and finish times are non negotiable for obvious reasons

I'd still go for the job in the school. The holidays themselves will save a lot of childcare costs and you'll be with your children. The DC will grow and need less care eventually and you'll be gaining experience. If it's an admin role then there are additional qualifications you can take that can lead to a good career as a school business manager. Look to the future rather than the short term. I agree with looking for a childminder as they're usually cheaper.

Are you paid all year round including holidays for the school job? Do you have holiday childcare through family or friends as if not you should factor that in to the alternative office jobs and may find the school job cuts even, but at least frees you up for more time at home and with the kids?

On the other hand, office roles may be more flexible day to day, so could you work compressed hours and do school pick up a few days pw so you're not paying for wrap around every day?

What about your partner if you have one, how many school runs can they do similarly flexing their hours? Can they change roles now you're returning to work to get a more even balance? Between me and DH we've always worked out the optimal work/income/childcare costs/time at home for the kids

Thinking, would I be better off working in something private sector, sending kids to All The Childcare and hoping my salary is big enough to make that worth it.

Then you'd have to cover all the holidays as well.

£125 per week for 2 children isn't terrible, and if DH does the drop off then the cost is even less. Surely you'll have plenty left over if you're working full time? And you won't have to pay for childcare during the holidays.

Don't forget to factor in any other financial benefits that you'll get through working, such as pension contributions. It's

Sorry cross posted - just seen it's a TA role. Advice still stands though, there's plenty of scope for career progression

It sounds reasonable to me - it's pretty cheap for two children and it's not like you're paying it 52 weeks of the year.

Can you use tax free childcare for after school clubs? I'm sure you can. That'll make it 20% cheaper.

Tax free childcare get 20% paid of childcare

Some schools allow the TAs to have there children with them at the end of the day , children go to the same school they work at .

There may be cheaper options, are there any childminders that pick up from your school?

ASC at DDs school if £10 for 2 hours, breakfast club is £1 a day with drop off from 8am.

I assume the ta job is not at your own children's school?

And yes as said above not having to pay for holiday club will save you lots over the course of the year.

The holiday club here is £42 a day!

Thanks; some really helpful posts on here.

I can still be a dinner lady / lunchtime supervisor (they are recruiting for some af the same school and I have done the same job there before, so they would likely take me), which also means holidays are off and no holiday clubs required, with the added bonus that no ASC for kids (they don't love it there) and I'd also have free time in the mornings to do other things. That sounds lazy even to me! But, honestly, for the same financial return, it seems like a no brained!

Sadly no help available from friends or family. Friends mainly work full time, my mum is dead and the rest of the grandparents, although lovely people who I love dearly, are about as useful as chocolate teapots when it comes to childcare. We have had less than a handful of occasions where they have watched our kids. That would be the obvious solution, but they won't do it and I wouldn't strong arm them anyway.

Dh cannot do pick ups, but he can do drop offs.