childcare costs when on universal credit

[Kkh7]

I am a single mum to a 3 year old boy and on universal credit after previously being on the old benefits system. I had found employment over the Christmas period for the 2 days my son was at nursery, however his funded hours don't cover the school holidays. I will have to pay for those days myself, however it is £50 a day, universal credit do pay a portion of the child care back, which I am so grateful for, however it is in arrears, whilst the nursery need payment in advance. I don't have the money to pay for this money up front myself so won't be able to work in the holidays, this is obviously putting prospective employers off. My job coach can't off any advice, so I just wondered how other mums in my position are doing it? I don't have a credit card and I don't really want to go down this route. I don't have any one who can help me financially or with the care of my son in the holidays. This easter he is off for 3 weeks, which means I would have to find £300 for these weeks in order to enable me to work... It's frustrating as I really want to get back in to employment as soon as I can. Any advice/guidance or ideas would be really appreciated, thankyou in advance.

Its really unfair of the government, another big issue that wasn't there with tax credits.
All you can do is pay extra each week until you have built up enough to cover holidays. E.g. if the summer holidays will cost you £900 divide £900 by the number of weeks left until summer and pay that each week.

Would be approx £50 a week until the summer.

Also very important ask the nursery to average your bill over the year. As UC pay childcare monthly you would not get anywhere near the full 85% paid in the holidays.

Thankyou for your reply, it is appreciated. Unfortunately I can't afford to save anywhere near that amount. I am currently paying back over payments which is not helping, not caused by myself, but simply because of the way payments on the old system that I was receiving (income support and child tax credits fell) and the date I applied for universal credit, I did everything right apparently however I have just been whacked with another apparent over payment of nearly £200. I was already in trouble financially after waiting for the 6 weeks to receive my first payment as I applied just as I had moved to a new property....which I had to pay my rent in advance (plus deposit) but again, payment from universal credit is done in arrears 🙈 so I'm already behind financially. It's just really frustrating when I am so keen to work but this system makes it almost impossible at the moment. Hope that all makes sense, just very frustrated as there isn't an obvious quick solution and it feels like universal credit is looming over me with threats of sanctions etc for not finding a job like tomorrow :-S