Work and childcare

So I'm starting back at work soon, but not really sure how it's all going to work re childcare? We have no family nearby. My husband works 7-3 but that's not always local. I work for a care agency as admin staff but the majority of my work is out in the field with assessments. I guess my question is how have people found affording childcare and working full time before the free hours kick in?

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It didn't make sense for me to go back full time financially but I do three long days at work instead. You can get help via tax free childcare which contributes towards some of the fees 😊

My girl went to nursery when she was 11 months old so we had to pay for the 18 months till she qualified for any funding help (the term after they turn 2). We have no family or anything either so it just was a cost we had to swallow 😢 I put her in a daycare next to my work, it does mean I have to commute with her but my husband works all over the country/overseas so only I can be relied on for pick up. I also found daycares in cities had better opening hours, so I could do my full work day before pick up. Local to home pick ups were like 5pm which means I would have to leave work at 3/3.30pm to get there on time.

I will be going back part time in january, she will be entitlef to 15hrs funding then as the will be 9 months old. This will make our costs for 3 days a week around £620 pm then we will get tax free childcare also so would be roughly £540pm. If we take that cost from my wage i’ll still be taking home just over £1000 so made it worth it for us. I think it really depends on circumstances individually for us it didnt make sense me going full time. Could you consider a phased return to work?

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