Wrap around care pricing me out

[notaclue221]

Probably a bit of a pity post, as there's not much anyone can do!
I'm a lone parent of 2 and both children have wrap around care each school day so I can do my job. This totals to around 700quid a month and I don't know what else to do. Teaching 10 years and I'm considering leaving the profession even though I'm on ups2 with a tlr, I just can't get by month to month!
Id hate to leave l, but I'm running out of options...

Sorry you're having a tough time. Presumably you are claiming everything you can and using tax free childcare? What would you be entitled to if you stopped working? How many years til wrap-around for the eldest isn't needed?

Thanks for the response, yes I'm on tax free childcare. I wouldn't leave without securing another role elsewhere, looking at the third sector WFH roles and therefore will be saving on childcare.
One more academic year before the childcare halves as the eldest won't need.
I'm thinking of approaching my current school and asking whether there will be any opportunities for promotion coming up...

Could you move to a different school? I know we are very fortunate but I teach at an independent school (abroad). Not only does DS (and DD once she's old enough to go to nursery) qualify for reduced fees but he is entitled to free before and after school care while I'm working. Since I usually work full time, that means five days a week.
I'm currently on maternity leave so pay for the one day that he attends after school care because he likes the clubs that day.
It might be an idea to have a look around and see whether any schools near you offer anything like that.

I was going to suggest moving to an independent school. If you get a good reduction AND free wraparound care, it can work out cheaper than paying wraparound care in a state school! Would a childminder be any cheaper? Lastly, could you pick up a few hours of tutoring work at all? There is so much demand and the hourly rate is high. Just 2 sessions a week could bring in an extra £200-£400 a month, depending on where you live.

How old are your children? Mine are 10 and 12 and my 10 year old can walk to and from school alone but she has a phone and meets up with friends. My son goes to the school I teach at so he comes in with me. If you can get through the next few years to this point it's a lot easier. We also have a very generous pension and no holiday childcare needs which another job would require. I wouldn't chuck in teaching just yet.

Hi thanks for the replies.
It works out to be around 42 quid per day, I have a 7year old and 10 year old. We live too far away from the school to walk.
Wraparound at the moment is a culimination of after school and child minder. We have one more year before oldest walks to secondary by himself. Perhaps I just need to take the hit

Depending on where you are in the country, tutoring just a couple of hours a week would probably cover half your childcare bill.

I tutor from home and charge £45 per hour. 2 hours per week works out at £3500 per year term time only! I put my daughter through private primary school on tutoring alongside my teaching job.

Might be worth a thought temporarily as your children are old enough to sit quietly while you do 2-3 students per week from home. Online is even easier.

Thanks for the reply.
I manage to do tutoring once weekly although it's been a bit sporadic lately! I should go through an online route though as I find it can be a lot with travel after work.

Or can you teach from your home? No childcare needed, no extra travel.

Most wfh jobs contractually require you to have childcare for under 11s for your working hours.

I'd be a little bit careful about planning to tutor/teach at home for any meaningful anount of time without childcare for your 7 year old. Your customers will realise this immediately and will feel they aren't getting your undivided attention.

I think assuming there's a solution where you can work without any wrap around care may not solve your issues until your youngest is a couple of years older.

To come at this from a different angle, it’s not that you need to earn more. It’s that you need half your costs covered by the DCs’ dad. Is there anything you can do to pursue the cost of their upbringing being split fairly?

Really great advice on here, 🙂 the ex is an alcoholic with no job and also not in the kid's lives so that rules him out.
I do love my job, despite feeling like I'm never 'done'.
Leaving teaching to avoid wrap around care seems crazy, I've looked at other sectors and they don't come close to what I'm currently earning.