Returning to work after maternity - Welsh childcare

[RJBMRE]

Hi all,

After some advice from a FTM.

We live on the English/Welsh border and unfortunately on the wrong side for funded childcare :( very annoying families 5 minutes down the road get funding but anyway enough moaning...

I'm due back to work in February and childcare for 5 days a week is £1700.

3 days a week is around £900 - £1000.

Currently working out how many days to go back. We have no family support and I am the primary carer. My partner works shifts and his job isnt as flexible as mine.

Do I go all in and return 5 days a week spending a FORTUNE on childcare only for us to be about £300 better off per month? (Factoring in commuting costs etc)

My gut is telling me 3 days a week as is the best balance for us. Working 2 days from home & one in the office.

Really keen to hear everyone's thoughts as I dont really have anyone else to speak to about it. For info, my mum thinks I should continue full time but I dont think she really appreciates how expensive the childcare is.

Conscious of the hit to my pension and if I do go part time, I would like to bump back up to full time when school comes around.

Think of the long term - your pension, health care, paid holidays and career prospects.
We just about broke even when I went back to work, but as my salary increased child care costs decreased.

Work it out over how many months/years you’d be paying that much, when does the funding kick in? What would you eventually want to work once they’re at school.

What are your career prospects/plans. Is your employer likely to accept a part-time work request?

My first year back my salary barely covered the cost of childcare and commuting but longterm it was the right thing to do as it meant my career kept going.

How easy would it be to go up to full time once they’re at school? I have seen people assume they can do this, then it hasn’t been possible.

I stayed home for 3.5 years with my second and took a hit to my salary. It was hard to get back in but I did and surpassed my previous salary after 4 years. I don't regret it. He has ASD and daycare was not a fit so I waited for community kindergarten and went full time when he started Prep. Just go with what you really feel, including your feelings about whether full time daycare is right for you.

Like another PPs have said, I thought long term when I returned to work the first time. Not yet about career and pension but do you want more children, would you prefer to be able to do pick up and drop offs at school, what is your lifestyle life etc.

As much as I would have love to have gone 3 days a week first time, logically as we wanted more children, going back full time was the right thing to do. It didn't actually make much of a difference on a monthly basis (like £100) but long term it has more benefits.
Pay rises between children meant more money for my second maternity leave and when I dropped to 30 hours when eldest started school, I'm actually on more than I was full time when I returned the first time. I worked extremely hard to make this happen.
We also have family that live abroad. Going part time after my first maternity leave mean no abroad holidays. This wasn't viable with our situation.

There’s no way on this earth I’d go back to work full time with a littl’un , but it’s such a personal decision & nobody can make that for you .