You might get working family tax credits and childcare tax credits if your family income isn't too high. But also consider that you get to keep your skills up to date and so you wont be faced with the problems related to 'going back' to work - no career profile or huge gaps in it, lack of confidence, etc., And if you've been working for peanuts + nursery costs, when your children are in school you'll start to feel well off as the fees goes down more and more each year! There are pros and cons.
But also consider the school holidays, about 14 weeks a year. For example, I get 22 leave days a year, so have to take unpaid leave or pay for holiday clubs during the periods I can't take as leave. For me, I'm calculating that I'll earn almost nothing those weeks/months. How do you claim for childcare costs related to school children needing to go to holiday clubs, so not a regular weekly cost? I've never been able to. For example, it costs about £120 a week each for the two older ones to go to say a private holiday school, then there's the nursery fee for the baby, another £140 a week or so. I don't think I earn that much!
I've a 5 month old (so I'm on maternity leave) and two kids at primary school, so I'm trying to work out what to do myself. I was on a pretty good wage, but still feel it's pointless to return. With my other two I earned about £400 after paying £900 on (part time) childcare, and was so run off my feet, that I wonder whether it was worth it. I'm still not sure. But also (now my kids are at school 6 & 8 yrs old) I'm struggling to keep on top of what they're doing and their homework, etc., while I'm on mat leave, that I can't imagine how I'll fit all what I do now in - just for peanuts. But, the peanuts do turn in to money over the years as you start to get free sessions, etc.
Sorry! just as confused I'm afraid! I too have no family support.