If you attend a bricks and mortar university and have small DCs....

[mumofaboy]

how do you arrange your childcare? I'm tentatively thinking about going back to uni in the next couple of years, but I'm wondering how you manage to arrange childcare given that lecture times have a tendency to change term to term? Currently DS is doing fixed days at nursery but they need a fair bit of notice to change those, plus it would be quite unsettling for him to keep changing. The other option is OU of course, but there's something about physically returning to uni that makes me wistful....!

How do you manage?

You would get a childcare grant and probably book him in fulltime. Thats what I need to do, but my course is over 4 days and the 5th day will be essays etc

I am going in September and have 3 DC, one in school full time, 1 part time and one baby. I will pay for ds1 to do full time at school and any after/before care with the childminder for them both that ds2 will be with full time. I will get roughly 75% of this (£255pw) paid by tax credits and use the living expenses loan for the rest.

I was at university when dd was tiny. Look into places that have a nursery on campus, as it was a godsend. For older dc I think either reliable relatives or a childminder. My department were very good at timetabling lectures and seminars to be at childcare friendly times as long as you emailed them a specific request as far in advance as possible to allow them to do this.
Good luck, I'm thinking of going back to study too, though I don;t think it will be easy this time round with dd at school and another child in the mix, but we'll see

OK, so it sounds complicated but do-able. I guess this is where the OU comes into its own eh?!

could you not look into a course run through a Higher Ed college?

I am doing my degree through a HECollege, it is validated by a London Uni. The days remain the same every semester so childcare isn't a problem.

Im a little confused. Do you work? Why is tax credits paying for childcare?

Are you talking to me dietcoke? Yes, I will be working too I work evenings so will be workingover 18 hours a week. Is there another way to do it that I am not aware of without me working?

Sorry Suwoo...yes meant you...

Are we talking uni level? Or college?

Are you a lone parent? Or with a partner?

Various other routes just depends on what you are doing.....

I just had them in full time mon to fri and the days I wasn't at uni or on placement I used the time to do the work I couldn't do at home. I got (some) help with childcare costs from my NHS bursary.

Yes, degree. Am married, dh earns £30-£40k. What other options are there without us being out of pocket as it were. Would love not to work eves aswell.

You need to ask about the childcare grant. It is means tested but after essential expenses such as mortgage are made. Have a look at the student forum on moneysaving expert-there is a thread on there and one poster may be able to help work it out for you,

TBH I think you may be out of luck but wanted to check you are aware of it.

I am about to embark on my second Masters degree - this one full time, last one part time. This one leading to PhD and have two DCs 1yo and 3yo.

ATM 3yo does 3 mornings preschool and cared for by PILs in the afternoons so that covers 2 days teaching at uni and 1 day study at home. DS does 3 days nursery.

I think you would be surprised about the number of courses at bricks and mortar unis that cater to part time students and as a result the teaching is organised into specified days to allow for day release from work. It also suits the course directors who can then dedicate the rest of their weeks to research or other activities. Is it postgrad or undergrad you are thinking about? Postgrad is easier with childcare ime as they cater for 'mature' students more often so have adapted a bit more, although still not enough!

I have had teaching days at uni as Weds/Thurs for the last 5 years (yes it took me 5 years to do Masters ) and will have same days when start new course in Sept, so have managed to have same childcare arrangements throughout. I know I got lucky with the new course being the same but even so it has been more stable than you are perhaps anticipating.

Thanks people. We're having a bit of a transition atm - we're selling our flat and are thinking about the possibility of moving away completely. It hadn't occured to me to go to a univeristy elsewhere (was thinking of applying to the ones nearest us) but now I'm starting to think about going further afield. It all feels quite exciting!

I'd advise looking into childminders.

Mine has been an utter gem about swapping days around and the drop of a pin - and doing 'an hour here and there' type things.