Booking nursery? But don’t know work days

[AlwaysAnnoyed]

Is this common?

currently on maternity leave, work require 8 weeks notice to my return and only when I give this 8 weeks notice will they consider changing hours to what days etc.

but nurseries need lots of notice for space?

all nurseries round where I live want To know now when I would like my child to go in. I only want him to go 1 and a half days a week. So what do I do????

Could you contact your manager and ask to arrange sooner? I've done it for employees in similar situations. It never mattered to me when they arranged their return, some wanted to do it early, others left it later. I'm sure if you explained that you need to secure childcare for your return, they could look at it sooner.

lots of nurseries will have a 2 day minimum - but if you can afford it, half a day to yourself to get things done is blissful!

Reserve a full time place then confirm days when you know.
It's the reason we were told nursery waiting lists were 18 months long but then got the places we needed fine closer to the time, hardly anyone actually takes up a full time place

A lot of us are In this position. Most nurseries will (should) allow you to reserve a full time space, and nearer the time you adjust downwards. Nurseries have long waiting lists so when you remove some days they should have people waiting to snap them up!