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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Help please - Cannot afford nursery costs

15 replies

MissTify · 27/07/2017 21:41

Hi, I've got myself into a bit of a mess with nursery costs and could really use some advice. I'm a single mum to a two year old DD. I've been looking for work for months with no success. Just last week, I was offered a full time job on a fixed term contract for three months. I booked my daughter into nursery full time and I started work today and my DD started nursery. I don't know why, but I was convinced I had to pay the nursery weekly. Today I was told I had to pay monthly, in advance and I have received a bill for almost £1,000. There's no way I can afford it. I haven't yet applied for working tax credits, as I was told this had to be after I started work, but it can take up to five weeks to process. I know I have been really stupid for not looking into this properly, but I was under a lot of pressure to start the job quickly. Does anyone have any advice? I'm thinking that maybe the best option is to leave my new job. Thank you

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Gizlotsmum · 27/07/2017 21:43

Can you talk to the nursery and explain?

Looneytune253 · 27/07/2017 21:44

Unfortunately I would imagine you've signed a contract with the nursery (?) So the fees would be due whether you use it or not now. Can you get credit to pay it for now? Have you asked the nursery if you can pay weekly? Have you asked employer for an advance? Do you have any friends or family that may give you a leg up?

Snap8TheCat · 27/07/2017 21:45

Don't leave your job. Do two things :

apply for tax credits, now, tonight.
tomorrow morning call or email the nursery manager and explain asking to pay weekly for now.

I'm a cm and would agree as long as it was always still in advance.

Good luck.

BellaGoth · 27/07/2017 21:47

I had very similar when I went back to work with my eldest, I hadn't realised I had to pay a month in advance. I emailed the nursery to explain and they came straight back with a payment plan for me. Hope you'll be able to sort out something similar.

CleanFreak123 · 27/07/2017 21:50

It's so sad / rubbish that you're working hard and not claiming benefits but yet get penalised and have to pay expensive nursery fees! The government really need to give working parents a lot more help! Best of luck, I hope you get sorted x

ChishandFips33 · 27/07/2017 22:50

I don't suppose you were entitled to the free 15 hours before you got your job? Have you received anything in the post about it and binned it because you thought you didn't need it at that point

Original poster

MissTify · 28/07/2017 22:16

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice. I rang the tax credits office this evening and applied for working tax credits. They said it might only take a couple of weeks to sort out (I really hope so). I will email the nursery and ask if I can pay weekly in advance for now and hope they do say yes. Chis thank you for raising this. I can get the 15 hours, but only in the next term after my DD turned two. So in Sept I can get the 15 hours funded, which will help a great deal. Clean I totally agree with you, the government really do need to do something. I was considering giving up my job over this, and I imagine many other single parents would feel the same.

OP posts:

Snap8TheCat · 29/07/2017 07:29

The two year old funding starts from the child's 2nd birthday so you absolutely do not need to wait until September. It's only the 3/4 year old funding that starts the term after.

Turquoisetamborine · 29/07/2017 07:37

If you were previously on income support, the Jobcentre can access what's called an in work emergency fund to help you with the upfront childcare costs. Give them a ring on Monday.

millsbynight · 29/07/2017 08:24

Speak to the nursery, in person or on the phone. They should be agreeable to let you pay weekly.

The alternative is they say no you need to pay monthly, you say you can't, they start a long and lengthy legal process to recoup the money meanwhile you quit your job and take your DD out of said nursery and they lose any future potential fees off your DD. It's a lose lose for everyone so make sure they understand that it can actually be a win win if they compromise on getting paid weekly.

ChishandFips33 · 29/07/2017 09:09

I think you paying weekly in advance is a good compromise - they won't be out of pocket or risking a debt

Glad you qualify for the 2s funding (you're right, it is the term after they turn 2 but a school nursery may take them on their second birthday or within that term but you'd need alternative care for the wraparound hours you work)

If you are still working when she gets her 3 yr old funding you should then qualify for the 30hrs

Hope things work out for you

Looneytune253 · 29/07/2017 09:12

snap it is the term after for 2y funding? Plus it will only be available if op earns under 16kpa.

Original poster

MissTify · 29/07/2017 10:54

Looney, oh no, I had no idea that you had to earn under 16kpa to get the two yr funding. My salary is 23k per annum, although it is only a 3 month fixed term contract.

OP posts:

Snap8TheCat · 29/07/2017 11:00

Ah ok. The only time I've had a 2 year funded child(ren) they did pay immediately but it could have been a special circumstance and possible my la paid for it (mum had a serious accident and broke both her legs- she had twins too!)

OP said above that she is eligible so I guess she's must earn less than £16000.

Snap8TheCat · 29/07/2017 11:01

X post- maybe not!

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