Sorry if this is a bit long... and should maybe be in childcare rather than work?!?
I was made redundant back in November and have been applying for new jobs since.
Originally I kept the 4 days a week at nursery while hunting for a new job. This cost £2000 a month for 2 kids.
Anyway, come February I still hadn't found work and couldn't afford the £2k a month. So I reduced their hours down to 3 part days to bring the bill down to £1250.
Now I've been offered a job!!!! YAY!!!
Problem is. The hours I gave up went to someone else. And now nursery can't increase their hours back up until Sept 2024... which is 18 months away!!!!
I can't find a nursery or childminder with any availability for 2 kids (one of which is under 2) any time soon.
I've explained my issue and requested flexible working. The company have been great and offered shorter days: 9am-4pm and 4 days a week, increasing up to full time in September.
Husbands put in a flexible working request to help two afternoons which has been accepted. But I'm still a full day and one half day off of having enough childcare for even their reduced hours.
I just feel like I'm trapped out of work now because I had to give the hours up while I was out of work.
How do you find a job without having full childcare set up beforehand? And how to you afford that childcare if you're out of work?