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Original poster

Best job for a single parent, to fit around childcare and do I get help with childcare?

12 replies

amireallythatsad · 26/03/2009 21:08

H and I split recently.

I used to be a PA before having DD, and haven't returned to work since having her. So over two years.

As we've split up I need to get back to work. I would ideally like to retrain in teaching or education. Ideally love montessori/nursery teacher.

However, what's the best job for a single parent?

I want to send my daughter to a fantastic nursery nearby in Sep, I know I will get the grant as she will be 3, but the requirement for attendance is 5 mornings a week, so the grant wont cover it fully. If I start working, will I get extra help towards fees?

How can I get help with training or work experience? Even if I am in training and not working, will I get help with nursery fees?

please help, so confused!!!!

OP posts:

RidiculousCrush · 26/03/2009 21:10

The grant should cover 5 mornings ....

kissyfurschaos · 26/03/2009 21:12

I am a singe parent to a ds aged 19 months and work as a teaching assistant. Love the holidays and they'll be perfect when ds is at school.

kissyfurschaos · 26/03/2009 21:13

*single parent rather!

Original poster

amireallythatsad · 26/03/2009 21:13

It does but it's a montessori so costs a little more.

However I am not being unrealistic and know that if I can't afford it I cannot send my daughter there. I'm sure there are lots of other great nurseries, but I love the concept and would love my DD to have the chance to attend.

OP posts:

Original poster

amireallythatsad · 26/03/2009 21:14

How did you get into it Kissy? How do you find the hours with your DS and nursery/childcare?

OP posts:

kissyfurschaos · 26/03/2009 21:15

I think it depends on the session length. At the pre school attatched to our school the sessions are exactly three hours long so tha they fulfill the criteria for the 15 hours a week over 5 days.

kissyfurschaos · 26/03/2009 21:21

I was really fortunate that whilst volunteering as part of my NVQ back in 2004 a post needed to be filled immediately so I was offeredit and gladly accepted. Was a saving grace for me as a couple of months previous I had a stillborn baby so really gave me something to focus on.
I am very fortunate that my parents are local and retired and semi retired and look after DS for me. I work three days a week which for me is the perfect work/life balance at the moment. As I work over 16 hours a week I claim working tax credit and can still claim housing benefit to cover some of my rent (private rent so v. high in relation to salary)
Can you contact local college regarding teaching assistant course ? NVQ. There is now at our local Uni a degree for teaching assistants. You need to spend a day at week at Uni and the degree is mainly placement based as opposed to traditional teaching degrees.

Hope to help.

Original poster

amireallythatsad · 26/03/2009 21:28

Thanks for your help, I'm gonna get in contact with local council about childcare courses and help with childcare.

Hopefully I can claim help then with working tax credit etc?

Sorry about your loss, BTW.

OP posts:

kissyfurschaos · 26/03/2009 21:40

Thanks.
All the best with the new career and training.
If I did have to put ds into childcare then I would be able to claim either up to 70 or 80% (can't remember which) to cover this via additional tax credits.

Original poster

amireallythatsad · 26/03/2009 21:44

Handy to know..(the childcare costs)

At least I know I can do it. Eventually.

OP posts:

littlelamb · 26/03/2009 22:02

ime, it's the company rather than the job that makes all the difference. Before my maternity leave I was working for a big solicitors doing the techy stuff for their marketing department- I really loved doing it and what made it brilliant was that they really were flexible. I don't drive and it was a fair away from my house and dd's nursery. I solved the problem in the first 6 months in the job by paying a lovely student (we are lucky to live in a university town, and dd went to the university nursery) to pick her up and take her to nursery in the morning and bring her home in the evening. It meant I could get to work on time. After the student graduated we were in a bit of a tight spot, as by the time nursery opened I would have missed the company mini bus that took people from town to work. I got round this by putting dd in the early group at nursery and catching the bus in. I got there about 20 minutes late, and I had to then leave about 45 minutes early in order to go and get her. My firm were fine with it. I worked through my breaks (which I know you're not meant to, but needs must) but I was getting so tired that they proposed I do an hours work from home in the evening. That worked alright, but I was extremely worn out.
I would say working full time is difficult as a single parent. By the time I went on maternity leave I was throughly burned out, not least because I never got a proper break from work- all my holiday days were used for emergencies, which again they were happy for me to take on no notice.
COmpanies now are meant to have more family friendly policies, but in practice they vary so much between firms that it can be difficult to scout out the good ones. I think what worked in my favour was that I was upfront from the interview onwards- I was honest about my position, that I was in sole charhge of a young child and I think they appreciated it.
You will get working tax credit if you earn under a certain ammount that will help towards nursery fees. I would consider though wether or not you want to go full time. Having had almost a full year off now I really realise what I missed with dd- she was in full time nursery from 8 weeks as I had her while I was at university and had to go back at the start of a new semester. I am thinking of going back to work now and I know that I wouldn't be able to commit full time, just because now I have 2 children and no car it would be a logistical nightmare. I do miss not being at work though and now ds is 9 months I have found myself thinking about it more and more, so I am going to see if my work will take me back part time. I know that lots of people there do go back part time which should hopefully work in my favour.
Good luck with whatever you decide

Original poster

amireallythatsad · 27/03/2009 13:54

Thanks Little Lamb.

I know it's going to be a bit of a nightmare. I'm looking at going into training for childcare or teaching so my hours could be a little bit more child friendly. I think I will only be able to do part time at first to get into it and also see how it works. (Obv depends on whether I am able to get a job )

I know I am going to be semi-reliant on benefits but I want to be able to provide somewhat for myself and my DD. Seeing as ex-h has decided that he doesn't want to be married anymore, my time of being a SAHM with DD will have to come to an end. Although I have to say being at home with DD was the toughest (but also enjoyable) job I have ever carried out. I guess I am fortunate to have had over two years with her but I am sad to be leaving her to work. But needs must and I want to feel that I am contributing towards our life, not completely reliant upon others.

It's so tricky and I am quite under the weather with all the stress of it. I've got mortgage bills to pay and am awaiting to find out what income support I'll get etc so am very much feeling the pressure of it all!

To be honest I think I will be happy to be working as I feel that I am doing something and my DD can see that it's good to be independent and a single mum.

Oh it's like a bottomless pit of doom at the moment. But there is only one way out and that's up. I guess.

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