I keep finding contradictory information online, so it would be much easier if someone in the know could just help me with a few questions! I am at an early stage in researching this, so sorry if I ask anything blindingly obvious.
A little background: I graduated with a high 2.1 in 2013 and have worked in several jobs (9 months of that has been spent on mat leave, but I'm hoping they wouldn't discriminate against that) since. I am about to start as a childminder as soon as my Ofsted application has finished, so will have experience working with children. I am planning to go into a local school and help when I have chance, too.
For a while now I have wanted to go into primary teaching. I have looked at PGCE vs. school direct options and, since I have a child to support and enough student debt already, I think that salaried school direct would be the most sensible option for me. I will have had 3 years of out of university experience by the time the placement would start, would that be enough or would I need to have had that before applying?
I have read that some schools will consider part time placements. This appeals to me because my DP works long hours and I would prefer to put my DS in nursery only part time. It would not be the end of the world if I had to put him in full time, he will just be turning 2 and there's a nearby nursery which starts from age 2 which I really like the look of, but of course I'd prefer to spend more time with him if possible! Does anyone know how common part time placements are and how realistic it is that I would be able to get one?
A funding question - with a salaried place, do you also have to pay some tuition fees like with an ordinary school direct place, or do you just get a salary and that's it? (Hopeful, possibly naive question! 
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I also wondered about the applications process. I read online that you worked for a couple of schools, but I also read somewhere else that you apply directly to just one school. How does this work and who exactly am I supposed to be applying to? When are vacancies usually advertised, and where is the best place to find them?
I hope someone can help!