Advice/support with childcare for working parents

[Stephw306]

I haven’t used this site before so I don’t know if I am starting a new post or responding to someone elses!

I was just after some advice. I am 30 and just found out I am expecting my first child. My only worry is affordability of childcare and wondered what the best option would be.

I work full time earning £28k a year and my partner who is also working full time earns £19k a year. Once I go down to statutory maternity pay at 4 months off I’ll have to return to work as we won’t be able to afford our house/bills otherwise. My partner is thinking of dropping a day at work as he earns less so makes more sense him dropping a day. I just wanted to know what help and support is out there for working parents.

Also when a child gets to school age what do parents do in the holidays as we wouldn’t get enough annual leave to cover the holidays?

Thanks to anyone who can help

How tight are finances now? Income is only relevant if you can relate it to your expenditure.

What is advise right now is look to save as much as possible from now to help you through. Take a look at your monthly outgoings too to see what you can reduce (swap utilities etc).

Your dh can take parental leave too, so if you felt you had to go back at 4 months, could they take shared parental leave from 4m to 10m or so? Check what they get from their company as pay for shared parental leave.

Childcare - one of you can claim tax help - basically the govt add 20% into the pot of your childcare bill to cover what you've been taxed. Worth reading up.

Look at local providers. Get some prices from nurseries and childminders.

School - it's a juggling act. You take 2 weeks summer, he takes 2 different weeks, kids go to school holiday club for 2 weeks. Easter, may week and October week- school holiday club or any help you can get from grandparents.

It's also possible to find childminders who will do morning/after school during term time then full time in holidays. I know one who then splits the years amount into 12 so it's equal payments.

For childcare there are nurseries and childminders (and nanny’s but they are expensive). I’d start looking now to understand the cost and visit the possible ones. You may need to get on a waiting list. You may be entitled to working tax credit. You will get child benefit - about £20 per week.
You will accrue annual leave while you are on maternity leave so if you have 20 days per year and take 6 months off, you will have 10 days accrued. You could use this to delay your return or work fewer days to start with (e.g. taking one day per week) if your work agree,
It’s a good idea to start reducing your spending now so you are used to it later.

Thank you.

Finances are good currently. I have done all searches for cheapest utilities etc already. I also have a work lease car so insurance, tax, fuel etc is all paid for by work with a small contribution out of my pay per month.

I will look into the childcare tax thing you mentioned and look into my partner taking the leave instead of me.

As for grandparents/family, I am an only child and my parents live abroad full time and due to the childhood my partner had his family are only seeing our child with one of us present. Although I have considered flying them across to Spain in July, they staying with my parents over summer and then my dad brings them back on a flight at the end of August!

I believe we would be entitled to child benefit due to our earnings.

Information on government help with childcare costs is at childcarechoices.gov.uk .

I am expecting my first child so I have read through the maternity policy at work. However I am a little confused!

It works out that I’ll get 4.5 months of 90% earnings made up of statutory maternity pay and occupational maternity pay. Then after 4.5 months you only get £148 pw statutory pay. Which is well over a grand less than what I am earning, also my lease car and private mileage will still be deducted so I’ll take home less than £300 a month.

Obviously £300 is not enough to cover bills, housing costs, food etc and then all the added costs of an extra person in your family! Even if I didn’t have my car costs deducted it’s not enough to live on.

When in receipt of statutory maternity pay are you entitled to any benefits? I don’t understand how the government can expect someone to live off £148 a week! It feels that’s it been made impossible for working women to start a family!

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

Have a look at universal credit which may help for those months on smp.

Hi, I need some advice. I currently pay for my son to go to kids club during the holidays as i work 5 days a week(single parent). However, he is now 11 and after this years summer holidays he will no longer be able to go as he will be too old. I have checked other options and he wont be able to I to ay of the local clubs as he will be too old from September. What do others do in this situation? I still have to work but can I leave him home alone from the age of 12? I dont know what to do. I have no backup at all as both my parents are dead. My sons dad sees him once or twice a month but he refuses to help if it costs him money. I am stuck and already worried out of my mind as I am unable to quit my job, that's not even an option for me. Any help would be welcomed. I live in Hull if that helps.
Thanks

It's a shame you haven't used a childminder. Mine stay with me for as long as they need care even into secondary school and after its not felt they need to be anywhere and can go home they can and do still call in or phone if they need anything from a chat because it's a bad day, lost keys, scared or just fancy a snack but theres nothing in.

There is also the cost of a childminder I need to consider as I only work part time and struggle to pay kids club even with tax credits. Are childminders really expensive?
Thanks for responding. Much appreciated

You save up to fund the remaining months on SMP-I am using £15k of savings to fund my maternity leave. It’s still very tight. You aren’t normally entitled to benefits.

Is this pregnancy unplanned? Assuming so as you are unprepared which I appreciate makes saving difficult but try to save as much as possible between now and mat leave.
You may also be able to take paid holiday as you will accrue holiday whilst on mat leave. I have 7.5 weeks of holiday pay tagged on to my mat leave which is fully paid.

Childcare is very expensive for the first few years but once they are just over 3 you get 30hrs free (term time, so about 22hrs a week over the calendar year.

Tax free childcare also helps reduce the bills by up to £2k a year.

@Debbiep11
Lots of 12 year olds stay home in school hols if they are sensible.

My friend is a single parent and she takes 2 days leave per week over the 6 weeks and shares the time with another parent so they look after each others kids for 2 days and then her child has 1 day home on her own each week. She’s a sensible 12 though

You can access tax credits or if not eligible tax free childcare which saves 20%. Charges vary a lot even in small areas and some offer a reduced day fee for over 8s so you would need to call. Charges for an hour are typically £4 to £5 but can be more or less days can be upwards of £25