How can I get a job if I’m not eligible for free childcare because I don’t have a job?

[Feliciacat]

Posting here for traffic.

Hi! I’m three months pregnant and my fixed term contract ended a week ago. I’ve been looking for a job for four months to no avail and sadly, most jobs aren’t permanent due to the economy. So I’m looking at temporary jobs but I can’t really commit to 12 month contracts as I need to leave in October 2025. Even six month contracts are hard because by the time I’ve been onboarded, I’ll only have five months of the six in which I can work. I have a couple of interviews for summer temp work as I think that’s my only option now.

So I won’t get OMP as I won’t have had stable employment for long enough. I also likely won’t have a job to go back to after maternity. But I need to be working to qualify for free childcare but I can’t afford to start work if I don’t have free childcare.

Oh and so as not to drip feed, I have a DH but he’s at risk of redundancy and he’s really stressed being the sole earner. Also, it may seem stupid to have got pregnant when my job was due to end but my infertility consultant said I had barely any time left to conceive so it was now or never really. We have zero family support to help with childcare as I’m estranged from mine and DH’s parents are dead.

Wibu to look for night shift work so that we wouldn’t need to pay for childcare? This is the only way I can think of that I can work in my circumstances. This is a miracle pregnancy but I can’t enjoy it as I’m so stressed thinking that we may end up destitute at this rate.

I was talking to someone today who is doing exactly as you suggest - one parent is working days and the other working nights so they don't need childcare. It's not easy for them but admirable that they're doing everything they can for their child without expecting tax payers to fund them. Huge respect for this kind of work ethic.

apply for any and all jobs. You are not obliged to inform at interview or offer stage that you are pregnant. Yes, you won’t qualify for SMP but that doesn’t mean you cannot apply.

OP, look into maternity allowance. If you don’t qualify for SMP you may qualify for that.

@HoskinsChoicethank you for your reply. If I can hack nights then it could work well.

@peepsypopsyes, I’m trying to do this but HR is pretty dire for jobs atm and permanent jobs are like hen’s teeth. I’ll keep looking though. Thank you for your reply.

I do qualify for this so at least I’ll have £184 a week from Oct 2025 to July 2026. You only need to work 26 out of 66 weeks before your child is born to qualify. Phew! Thank you for your reply.

You will get Maternity allowance which is more or less the same as SMP.

You will still need childcare if you work nights. Once you have found a job you can apply for free childcare once you expect to start working within 30 days.

That ,s what i dud when ,my now 18 year old was a baby/toddler
I was a nurse and went on permanent nights for three years it was exhusting though.

So when does the night worker sleep?

Thank you for this. I guess my concern is that I’ve heard it can take a year to secure a childcare place. Do you think it’s possible to get one in 30 days? If it is then that’s so much better than I thought.

I don't have a magic solution but sending my sympathies. The job market is dire at the moment. Even big companies are streamlining / restructuring so what would normally feel like a job for life just isn't at the moment. Keep applying for jobs, any jobs. It's a numbers game. Also lean on your network if possible. A lot of jobs are only advertised to fulfil a HR obligation so try and get on the inside if possible. Look at where your families work, the businesses local to you and see if you can find something that way.

@x2boysyou sound like such a trooper. Congratulations on your boys.

@Discombobbleyes, I feel like working full nights would be pretty awful because there’s no way a baby or toddler would let me sleep in the day. I guess maybe evenings or very early mornings could work.

This is what we did when ours were young. I worked 3 nights a week in a nursing home and DH worked during the day. It was hard and I was shattered, but it means we didn’t have to pay childcare or claim any benefits.

Thank you for your kind words and your validation @HamSandwichKiller:)

Care work sounds like a great idea actually. Although not right now as I can’t do heavy lifting. Thanks for the idea.

Slightly different situation as I already work nights. I’m pregnant too due September and that’s our plan after maternity leave ends. But we still plan on using a nursery as I will still need to sleep some of the day. I currently work 6 out of 14 days.

my biggest worry with this is my working days I won’t see DC plus I’ve already left before DP is home.

im hoping it will work for us though.

I would keep applying for jobs though, you don’t need to tell the employer you’re pregnant until it suits you. Even temp work will let you bring money in and start saving for maternity leave.

That's entirely area dependant. You could put your name down on the waitlist at local nurseries now.

I could but if I get a place before I have a job then we will have to pay the full price and we can’t afford that. So I’d need a job so I would get free hours but I can’t afford the childcare to start a job without the free hours. I feel quite stuck.

It’s not what we picture when we dream of having our first child is it? I hope it works out for you. At least it’s only 6/14 days.

I actually love my job and in my area of expertise in the sector i work in I don’t have a huge choice but to work nights and or weekends.

I know it won’t be ideal but if I choose to go back to days I won’t be using my expert knowledge and would likely leave my profession. I would also lose a 33% salary boost.

it’s something I’ve accepted that for at least 3 of my days working I won’t get to spend it with my dc will just be a drop off at nursery if I’m lucky. The other 3 ill get part days and then will have a full week to be a SAH mum.

DH's parents had one working nights and the other days for much of his childhood. He seems to have turned out alright. His parents are still happily married too so it can definitely work.

Hope everything works out ok OP sounds like you have a lot going on.

It's hard, isn't it? I was in the same boat but a single parent—no income due to fleeing DV whilst pregnant and having to leave my home and job. Are you on UC? You can claim back 85% of childcare costs. Even if it's just for that first month or two. (i wasn't eligible, but it's worth looking into).

I would be very careful with suggestions about night shift for you.
I did night shifts for 5 years (7pm-7am)- believe me, it affects your health massively, especially if you are pregnant. And some companies have Risk Assessments where you'll need to tell if you're pregnant.

Use a childminder as they don’t always charge full day like a nursery would. To be honest we never got any free childcare when ours were babies. It was tight financially but we just had to be frugal. I didn’t know everyone got free hours nowadays.

When you start job hunting start looking at childcare too, you might have to just take what childcare you can get and then fit your working hours round that.

Maybe try getting a job in a nursery (and get your child in there too)?