Want to start working again but can't afford childcare - any advice?

[monkoshi]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can offer any advice. I am a self-employed writer and my husband is a full-time student. I have not been working since our daughter's birth but now that she has turned one I am eager to start up again. However, I am grappling with the conundrum of how to afford childcare so that I can buy myself some time to start working again.

I had been counting on being able to apply for the childcare provision provided by the tax credit system, but I have just been told this morning that we wouldn't qualify for this because it is only available if both partners are working - can this be correct? My husband is not in work but nor is he available to take on any of the childcare as his course is full-time, so it doesn't seem fair if this disqualifies us. Surely there must be some provision for couples in our situation? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Would your husband not qualify for the Childcare Grant as part of his student loan stuff?

Oh and yes, the working tax credit childcare part is only if both are working 16hrs+ each.

Thanks for this ABitBatty - I will try calling the student loan people tomorrow, but I fear they might say he would not qualify as he is an American (he is not receiving a loan presently). He did however qualify for EU status for fees (because we're married and he's been resident in Europe for more than 3 years), so it would be worth asking. We've been living abroad which is why I am a bit out of touch with the system here.