university and childcare

[MikeTheShite]

can I ask some advice? I am looking to go to university in September and im panicking about childcare.
My daughter is currently at nursery one day a week, shes 16 months.
What does everyone do for childcare when university hours are so strange and irregular? im looking to do social work and the uni is about 35 minute drive on a good day.

TIA

Thanks so much for this thread! It was just what I was looking for. I'm hoping to start a degree this year, my DD will be starting school and I'm really worried about her being in breakfast club and after school club so much. Has anyone got experience with this to give any advice please?

My best advice for childcare is definitely get more than just your contact hours, obviously this depends on your personal circumstances but if the whole time you are with your child you are stressed it is far less enjoyable. In my second year I added 12hrs childcare so I was able to do some tidying and uni work, although I saw DS less our time together was so much more relaxed.

It will depend on your uni, but mine is really good they let me swap days round so I could have day off when teachers were on strike and a couple of the school half terms weeks are different to uni so they let me have days off and I came in and saw my lectures for a one to one on the stuff I missed.

Child care grant is really good and you can get extra money if your are a single parent to help too.

Just spotted that you're doing social work. Have you thought about childcare options for placements. Different days, some placements may include weekend / out of hours and may be further for travelling.

Social work really is full time and full on! My DD is in 5 days a week. Final year 1 day uni , 4 days placement. Even if placement not that heavy in first year you need study time.

Good luck!