How do you do this please help!

[fl2105]

I'm thinking of going back to work but don't know how to? So I quit my job because I wanted to spend more time with my baby, she's almost 2 now and I don't think I am doing enough for her with her development and I think nursery would be better for her at this stage. However when I've called up a few nurseries they've all said they don't have a full time space until the end of the year and they only have 2 days a week? I didn't know this and I am a bit naive I know (ftm) but how do people navigate this? Do they wait till there's full time nursery available and then try and look for a job?

Also I am curious to know how much your nursery charges a day! I am still trying to work out if I am better off working or staying at home money wise. My partner is on 26k I will be looking for a job that is 26-30k our nursery charges £51 per day is there any help available?

And are anyone on roughly the Same wages? Can you survive? And how much do you have left over.

Signed by a stressed mum.

When she is 2 I believe you will get some funded nursery hours.

So you could wait until you get the funded hours and then you can start applying for jobs to make sure you can afford the nursery costs before getting a job.

Sign her up for all the nursery's and get her on the wait lists. You could always ring round and cancel as soon as you get a placement.

Have you also thought of a childminder ? They are sometimes more flexible.

I’d say there’s no point in job hunting until you’ve got a nursery place lined up, so I guess put your daughter’s name on a waiting list and then start job hunting a month or two before she starts. However if you are keen to return to work sooner, it may be good to ask childminders, who are often more available than nurseries.

On finances, you should be eligible for 15 ‘free’ hours per week once your daughter turns 2, though it’s worth finding out how each nursery calculates this (sometimes it’s as more of a subsidy which brings the day rate down, some may not be planning to offer these at all).

You should also be able to get ‘tax free childcare’, which reduces the bill by 20%.

Find out about funded hours, put her in for the 2 days if you can afford it, look for part time work. Even a couple of days would benefit her development and be a smoother transition than straight into full time and you can still spend time together.