I’ve been asking around, thinking I am ultra organised and prepared as we don’t need care to start until late summer of 2025 - a good 18 months away.
3 settings have replied with very sorry but full until September 2026! 2.5 years. Not a mistype. On a waiting list for one 15 minutes away with a space when my child will be 11 months, which is later than I wanted to go back to work. Don’t know how we will afford unpaid leave at the end of maternity.
How are people managing? My friends/mum have all said I shouldn’t be stressing about finding childcare while pregnant as I don’t know how I’ll feel when the baby is here. The reality of the matter is it seems the best time was yesterday to be on anyones waiting list especially if you want a childminder. This is not London btw, somewhere suburban with a reputation of being cheap.