Hello
I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on receiving government help with childcare (aka the 15/30hr free) if one parent isn’t working and isn’t eligible for benefits.
My partner is self employed with a variable income (though not low enough to receive govt support). I am studying to be a psychotherapist which means a lot of academic work and a clinical placement where I work in a counselling centre for free to gain my clinical hours.
All the systems seem to require both parents to be earning (and class your finances as one whole) and the only grants I can find are for young mothers who are going to uni, not mature students like myself.
We are trying to make it work on one wage while I qualify but would like to send our DD to nursery once she turns 2.5 but the cost is prohibitive. We currently juggle between ourselves, elderly grandparents and one day of childminder which works most of the time, but I would like her to socialise at some point soon.
I’ve searched the internet so don’t hold out much hope but wondered if anyone has been in a similar situation?
Thank you