what to do about childcare

[LAURACOLLEY]

I don't know what to do when I finish uni. I am currently living in a family flat in a hall of residence with my partner who earns about £18,000 a year (before deductions) and my two year old son. I will be finishing my environmental science undergraduate course at the end of May next year, but we can stay in the flat until the end of August next year.

The LEA will only pay childcare of £573.75 a calendar month until the end of May next years and then its up to us. We don't get working tax credits as my partner earns too much, but we do get family tax credits of about £2000 a year.

The university we are at is 5 hours away from any family.

We will not have enough money to pay for sons childcare after the end of next years May based on partner earning £18000 a year. We will probably have to rent until I find a good paying (£18,000 ish a year) job. If we moved to nearer family then my parents may help out looking after my son. We could stay where we are now and I look after him myself, but that would mean not being able to work at all and having little time to find a job.

I could also stay on and so a postgraduate, a masters for 1 year or a doctorate for 3 years as the flat is cheap living, but again I would need about £10,000 from a research council just for childcare payments.

Any thought?

i don't know what the earnings threshold is for getting childcare hlp through tax credits is, are you able to get any of this?
also from the term after your son turns 3 he will be eligible for 5 two and a half hour sessions a week in nursery/pre-school/accredited childminder, wherever he goes so will reduce childcare bill a bit..

if you move nearer to your parents, how much would they be willing to help with childcare, also is accomodation near them cheaper/more expensive etc it may work out even wih them helping with childcare you still would be short of money.

at the end of your course could you reduce your sons hours at nursery so that he goes while you look for work, if thats what you decide to do, but the bill isn't so big at the end of the month?