Just a quick question, can a single mum or indeed a couple be forced to put thier children into childcare inorder for them to go out to work?

[whoingodsnameami]

Or can jobs be turned down on the fact they dont fit within school holidays?

School hours sorry, not holidays.

forced by who?? If your children are over a certain age, I think you have to take a job rather than claiming JSA. Is that what you mean?

I am on income support, twins are 6 and a boy of 9, I have to go to job centre every 6 months to justify why I am not working. I dont have a problem with working but I have a problem with putting the dc in childcare.

If you leave your job is it six months before you can claim job seekers allowance ?

Well, we'd all like to work school hours, but it just isn't practical for the majority of the population. By your logic, most working parents are 'forced' to use childcare of one sort or another. I wonder what makes you think you're so special that you deserve to be the exception to the rule.

Sorry, but .

Err, I never said working parents are foced to use childcare, Im saying I would'nt feel at all comfortable putting my dc in childcare.

Well sometimes life is a bitch!

sorry but if the childcare is avaiable for the hours of the jobs that you can do I think you should be using it.

it's a nice ideal - but not practical.

Obviously different if there's no childcare available....

Nope, they can't force you to use childcare ... but they can decide not to fund that lifestyle choice.

If you can afford to pay your own way without them then you can stay at home as much as you like.

I would like not to put my DC in childcare either. Unfortunately as I have a mortgage, that would have meant losing my home so not working wasn't an option.

Think you're being bloody precious. I don't work to support you siting on your arse most of the time because you don't 'feel comfortable' putting your school-age children into childcare

Again I'll ask. What's so special about you and/or your DCs that you feel you shouldn't have to make use of childcare like the rest of us? I'll accept your reasoning if one of them has some kind of special needs, but otherwise.....

I'd just like to think I'll be able to find a job when DS3 starts school that pays my bills, and childcare to go with it...........

If childcare is available then you should take a job imo.

Without going into the rights and wrongs of you working/not working, is it possible that either now/in the future the job centre (or whoever makes these decisions) would consider that school hours are in reality 8am-6pm? (ish)

This would take into account that all schools should have (or give access to) wraparound care to cover these hours, or will have to in the near future.

When your youngest child is 7 years old the element of your IS that is paid for you will be withdrawn and replaced with JSA which means you will need to be actively seeking work.

I'm sure most parents would like to work 10am till 2pm and for only 39 weeks a year so they could be their children whenever they are not in school but unfortunately the vast majority of jobs will require more of your time.

It is hard, but most people have to go back long before their youngest is 6.

I found it much easier once mine were at school - only the after school club to pay for during term time, rather than the full time child minder.

I worked part time (3 days) and shared all day play dates with other part time mums during the holidays.

What is your particular worry about childcare?

Right, it was just a question I did'nt know the answer too, I have worked all my life up till 2 years ago when my husband left, until now woeking was completely out of the question because my son was having a hellish time in mainstream school, I was called out several times a week to deas with him ( he is autistic) he has now finally been moved to a special school and seems to be settling down, so working is becoming more of a possibility, I was just asking the question so I can be prepared for what I might have to do.

MumInBeds said it the best. You can't be 'forced' to put your children in childcare, but you also can't expect someone else to fund you if that option is available.

Stop claiming benefits then you can make what ever choice you are comfortable with.

I think when the youngest child is 7 you will have the choice made for you.
A labour policy implemented last year.

We would all rather not use child care. Unfortunately it would bankrupt the country if we all claimed benefits so we could sit at home all day waiting for our precious ones to return.

Perhaps you should have given all the information in your first post....

Bugger now I feel shite.
Why did you not give all the details in your OP?
Sorry to tar you with a brush.

Bloody hell
you refuse to work if it means you will need to use childcare
I thought this was going to be about a mum of a baby or toddler

they are 6 and 9 fgs
do you think the government should pay for you to be a sahm then?
whilst the rest of us juggle parenting childcare and work with no financial help?

Being a sahm is a luxury, especially once your dc are at school
not many people can afford it
including you

get a grip

Older kids LOVE going on holiday playschemes etc! there comes an age where they would rather be with children their own age during the day than be at home with Mum. The long school hols get very boring ofr them - especially if there is little cash for days out etc.

DP and I aren't on high salaries and we both have to work to keep an average roof over our heads..it's a fact of life, and not a bad thing fo children to learn, either.

What is it that worries ou about which kinds of childcare?

ahh now you see OP it's really a good idea to put key points - such as a child with autism or SN in your OP otherwise we all get the wrong end of the stick

Ah
just read your last post
don't drip drip info
you will get jumped on