Childcare... where do I start?

[Mamumu]

I'm a single mum and DD will be 3 in september. I need childcare. I really do.

XP will have her one day on weekends and one or two evenings per week.

She can't use her free hours in nursery until next term, that is January 2011.

But until then, I need to make something up that is not too £££... Just for me to be able to work a little and have a social life.

Nurseries, childminders, nanny share, babysitters... Not sure which option is best for me. Can you give me your advice? I'm in SW18.

Thanks!

I would say the most straightforward option is a childminder. And a cheap option too which can work really really well if it's the right person. However, it does take time to find the right CM as the good ones usually have waiting lists.

Cheapest option is likely to be a Childminder, or a Nursery. So that's narrowed it down it a bit.
Look around at both and see what you and your DD prefer. Nursery is large group care, whereas being with a childminder is small group care.
Nursery will be able to use the childcare funding from Jan 2011. Some childminders can also use that, though not all.

Think longer term... a childminder could care for your DD until they are 10 (as long as they are able to collect from the school your DD gets a place at - you can no longer assume children will get into the local school alas), maybe even longer. Whereas with a nursery you will probably need to find another solution once your DD goes to school.

THanks! How do I look for a childminder? How much does it cost?

Check out the ofsted website, they have info on registered childminders in your area. Also, your localcouncil may have info for you and have a look on MN local for any ads.

Not sure exactly where you are, think SW18 is Wandsworth area...

Wandsworth Families Information Service
020 8871 7899
[email protected]
They can send you by e-mail a list of childminders with vacancies. You can also pickup that list from 4th Floor, Town Hall Extension, Wandsworth Town Hall.

Wandsworth Council are doing a Major IT upgrade this weekend, so a lot of the council website is unavailable.

PDF: Vacancies List (Wandsworth) 17-Aug-2010 - This will take a while to download given the IT Upgrade but I did get it eventually.

It does list fees for some providers. £5-£7 per hour, average of £50 per day looks to be about the price range you are looking at from a quick look at the list. Remember to ask childminders what is, and isn't included in the fees - such as do they charge extra for food, do they charge for outings?

Thanks! I think I might as well look for a nursery... but I don't think I'll be able to afford it until January. D'Oh, why is childcare so expensive in London? :/

Don't forget you may be eligible for help with childcare cost. They can cover up to 80% of the cost. Have a look here. www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCreditsandChildBenefit/TaxCredits/Gettingstarted/whoqualifies/Childrenandtaxcredits/DG_073803

Yes, but I am not working at the moment, although I'd love to retake my career... but to do that, I need childcare... and for childcare I need money... and money comes from working... I'm a bit confused... I thought that maybe it would be a good idea to contact a lone parent adviser.

Just to clarify, I'm an illustrator and any kind of work I did, I would have to be self-employed.

mamumu you don't say how old you are but there is adult learning grant available for people who study and care to learn grant for teenage parents so that childcare costs can be met

Hi LesbianMummy, I'm in my early thirties. I don't want to study, I just want to retake my career... I was very succesful before I became a SAHM.