I have a potentially stupid question

[microplasticmum]

Thinking of going back to work soon, probs on a part time basis. How do I manage nursery costs while I look for a job?

Local nursery I’ve got my eye on has a waiting list we’re on, they expect two days a week minimum which would be £140 ish. Don’t qualify for free hours obvs as only husband in work right now, £140 a week would stretch us quite a bit. I expect we will need to just take the place at nursery when it becomes available, I don’t think they’ll wait around for us. So if I don’t have a job lined up I’m just buggered? And I can’t really commit to a job before I know I have childcare in place anyway?

I think I’ve got myself in a muddle with all this. I wasn’t expecting to want to go back to work before primary school so I’ve never really sat down and figured out how this all works. Any insight much appreciated.

A childminder might be more flexible about start dates. I think it’s going to be tricky with any nursery with a wait list because aside from anything else, you won’t know your work hours until you get a job. You might pay the 2 days minimum and then go for a job which involves more or different days.

nursery works well if you’re going back to work after Mat Leave so you know your hours and will still be getting paid, but I think it’s going to be tricky when you don’t know what job or hours you might do

I would take the childcare place as hopefully your child will qualify for the free hours when you do get a job. I think you need to work the equivalent of 19 hours a week to qualify.
What kind of work were you thinking of applying for? Would weekend or night shift work better for you?
wish you all the best of luck, I hope you find a job that suits you and your little one xxx

I’m looking at entry level heritage roles (museums etc) it’s what I trained in, but it’s looking more and more unrealistic for the moment. Lots of the jobs I see advertised are annualised hours, irregular shift patterns, lots of driving and late nights. Not sure I could wrangle just weekends unless I volunteered (and then I’d feel guilty for missing out on family time), lots and lots of competition. Kicking myself for not picking something more reliable.

Husband has just been fired and rehired and lost pretty much all flexibility he previously had. His work want him for the odd weekend now too. Feeling a bit snookered.

Unfortunately your conclusions are correct given the waiting lists for most childcare (round here you have to get on the list while pregnant to get a space for a 1 year old). They’re private businesses and won’t wait for you, they’ll just give your space to someone else. It’s all very expensive.

Similar waiting lists where we live, we got on the list when we moved here (he was about 13 months old then, he’s 2 now).

I am really enjoying being at home with him but I’d just like to feel useful again. Feels like I’m in topsy turvy land and I somehow can’t afford to work.

I trained in a very similar industry, lots of away work and very early mornings and lots of driving. I have since left and now work in a more family friendly environment. Would you be interested in re-training?

First I’d go on the waiting list. Worst case they offer you a place and you don’t have a job yet, you tell them that you can’t accept right now but would like to remain on the waiting list (you might go to the bottom again). If you get offered a job before you get a nursery place, use a nanny for the time being. Financially this might not be great and eat up all that you earn, but it’s only an interim solution until you can get a nursery place and funding. You might even use a childminder that accepts funded hours, if the nursery waiting list is too long.

You say it will stretch you to pay it but does that mean completely unaffordable, or you could pay it if you cut back? It is expensive but as soon as you get a job you’ll get the funded hours and tax free childcare.

If your circumstances allow you to stay at home then do it until your boy is entitled to free nursery hours...then you can do part time.

It’s not that you can’t afford to work, it’s just that you can’t afford day nursery if you’re not working, which is a very normal situation. My kids are grown up now but I suspect it was ever thus. I returned to work after Maternity leave: if I hadn’t and had stayed home, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to send them to nursery.

I agree with pp who’ve said go on the wait lists anyway. Maybe broaden the possible nurseries you’re looking at which will help with timing. Or use a child minder when you do get a job as they may be more flexible about starting dates or minimum number of days, so you might get someone lined up on the proviso your son just goes one morning a week until you get a job. You could always switch to nursery further down the line when he’s older