Childcare help
I'm a lone parent to 7 week old, currently on mat leave with very little resources for childcare support once I go back to work but as this is new to me I have no clue where to start and want to be prepared both knowledge and afforadability wise. I work 20 hours a week and also need to consider whether I go back at 6 months or 9 months. HELP!
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@Becky thanks for this, it all seems so baffling. I know we will likely have to wait until next September for the funded hours so it's trying to navigate the costs and hours before that as i dont want to end up spending my full wage on childcare as its going to defeat the point. Looking on some local childcare sites it seems that the approx cost is around £45 for half a day and £65-£70 for a full day without the mention of funding. Snacks and meals are included for all selected hours, though it doesn't mention about what needs to be or may be provided.
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If you are working then you should qualify for the tax free childcare, this would be immediate however you wouldn't get the 15 funded hours until the term after baby is 9 months old. I would start by finding a childcare provider (waiting lists can be months or years long) and asking them to break down their costs for you - how much is it per day? Do they take funded hours and how (some only allow you to use them in 5 and 10 hour blocks)? Do you have to pay extra for consumables on funded days (ours is a ridiculously high £2.40 per hour), do you have to pay extra for food? Do you have to provide nappies, wipes etc. For reference I am in Norfolk, without funding it costs us £82 a day for ten hours, snacks included but not meals, we have to provide everything else. Two days a week was costing us around £640 a month. With the funding it is now £405 a month for two and a half days a week.