Any ideas ??? Desperately want to return to work but costs too high

[Ems8818]

Hi all I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on more affordable childcare .
I’m a single mum to 4 who are 5 months , 8,9 and 12(additional needs) .
I’ve just lost my previous part time employment however have secured a job offer within the nhs which would offer amazing stability for my family , however I’m struggling to work out how I’m going to be able to meet my childcare costs .
I’m annual income will be 17787 , with child care for the baby being £248.50 per week and £225 per week for the older children .
Tax credits will only help with £210 pre week which means I will need to pay £263.
I really don’t want to miss this opportunity and we really struggling financially with me out of work , I have no family able to help with childcare , wondering if anyone has any other ideas

Make sure that you trust your gut feeling. Have a list of questions to ask them about their skills and experience with children of all ages and abilities.
Observe their behaviour around your children too as well. Have a contract drawn up for the childcare provider to read and sign on the dotted line. Ask them to show you a copy of their CV so you can check any references that are given.
Insist on safeguarding procedures being followed carefully. Prepare a job description and person specification sheet to refer to just in case they mess up intentionally. I looked online for childcare providers for the kids.
My hiring decision was based on my personal feelings about the childcare provider. I also asked for recommendations from other parents.

Would they let you work four days? I think you might be better off at least until universal credit comes in.

april are you on the right thread?

Would part time be an option?

Have you looked into tax free childcare? Not sure if there's a limit on how many you can apply for, but for every child you pay £8 in childcare for, the government top it up by £2.

It might help a little bit.

How about becoming a childcare provider yourself? Fits around your own family, work your own hours...

Hi,

Congrats for the job offer! I notice your post is from two weeks ago, have you managed to sort something out?

What form of childcare would you use for those figures? The baby's will always be the most expensive, but could you use a childminder instead of a nursery? Or do a childcare swap day for someone who would need weekend childcare - assuming there must be some in the NHS. And a part-time nanny type arrangement for the older kids, e.g. a childcare student after school?

Hi
No sadly havnt got any solution - the costs are worked out on nursery for baby and a nanny for older children . A childminder for the baby would be around £202.50 per week .
I’ve tried to find a childminder which would bring cost down to about £168.75 per week for older kids however none have space who collect from the primary school 🤷‍♀️.

Could you just have an "unqualified" nanny at those ages? It depends on your 12-year old needs as well. When I was little, my parents found an elderly lady to look after us (after a long-long search) after school. She was lovely and we never needed any other childcare. Even when the arrangement ended, we stayed in contact and often visited her.

I assume your baby would stay with the childminder though until you pick them up so "unqualified" nanny would only be responsible for the older ones.

I really hope it works out, I also went back to work fairly recently and had to sort childcare at a short notice.

All I can advise is that one of my neighbours has five children all quite young .two sets of twins and a little girl. She doesn’t work but since having the first set of twins has had a live in aupair just to help do school runs and general housekeeping.Im Not sure but I think you provide them with board and bed then give them pocket money to buy their personal needs etc..I think they are only allowed to work for up to a year then you reapply ?
I myself was a nursery nurse nanny and last,y a childminder but retired now. I can see your predicament as full time care costs a lot of money.