I have 2 children. I am hoping to return to work part-time when my daughter is 3 and my son is 1..?

Question

by which time my son will be about a year old.

i was hoping to just pay for my sons childcare, as he will be under 3, but free early education for my daughter is only for 12.5 hours a week. if i get a job with more hours than that, i will have to pay for those hours.

None of the part-time roles i have seen are for as little as 12.5 hours a week, at best they are for 22-25 hours per week.

i had always assumed that from age 3, childcare was free for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week - so thats about 40 hours per week.

I am interested to know how other mothers are coping with childcare costs.

Answer 1

I live in japan and here in tokyo a working mum,also foreigners who work a certain amount of hours/monthly can get their kid in day-care/hoikuen-system for almost nothing....i truly believe  europe and many other countries must copy this system but for now and reading your difficult situation why dont you get some signatures from other mums in same position and present it to your government,atleast try something creative than just moan about it...maybe the dad could provide better or pay more so you dont need to work

Answer 2

I live in USA and haven't ever heard of free child care here :( We were paying 800 us dollars a month for one child and finally decided it was best for one to quit work and just stay home and not pay, we actually ended up making money from this because time was given to clipping coupons and filling out rebate forms.

Answer 3

You get 12.5 hours paid for per week from 3 years of age. This is going to increase to 15 hours.

Where did you get the impression that it was all free? Bear in mind that before the Labour government, we all had to pay for ALL childcare. You are lucky to get any free.

Answer 4

I only have one child and struggle with childcare, firstly because it is so hard to find any in the area I live in and secondly because of the cost. I found that child tax credits helped a little as they contributed a bit towards the cost but to get it both myself and my partner had to be working.

Answer 5

If it's not financially viable to do so then wh not enjoy your children while you can and got to work once they start school. Pre school education is funded the beginning of the first term after their 3rd birthday for 12.5 hours a week, anything more you have to fund yourself, however this amount is going to rise but only to about 15 hrs.

Answer 6

First, why would you assume childcare to be free for a 3 year old. When I worked with two small children. I figured I worked Monday & Tuesday to pay for childcare, Wed & Thurs. for Uncle Sam. and Fri and Sat. for me. It makes me wonder where you live?  I say get a job when your significant other is there to watch the children. Then you'd truely have free childcare. Or I would find a job I could do at home. Then childcare wouldn't be an issue either.  My children both went to pre-school and where I live it wasn't free, in fact it cost me $58 a month for 9 hours a week.  Not counting the drive time and the cost of fuel to drop them off and pick them up. If you can manage it financially stay at home until both your children are in school. I wish I could have.

Answer 7

I was under the impression that 1. If you are a single parent on benefits such as working family tax credits then you should be eligible for 70% og your childcare costs. 2. If you have a partner that works then you should also be eligible for childcare costs depending on the amount the other partner makes. 3. Why dont you up your hours and claim more tax creditd therefore bumpinh the childcare needed up so that you then can get a childminder for the hours your child is not in a setting ???? I live in Scotland and do know that we differ from other places. I do not know where you live but you should go to your nearest Welfare rights centre and ask them to investigate. Good luck !!!!

Answer 8

I take it you are a single mother? My son is six and when he started school I got a part-time job two hours a day at a local school. I didn't have childcare problems like yourself but i would recommend a child minder. They are usually reasonable and flexible. Good luck.

Answer 9

I'm in Australia, and it will cost me $100 per day to put my 2 boys into childcare. We get charged for 12 hours a day, whether the child is there for an hour, or the full 12 hours that the centre is open.  As I was just a lowly receptionist before falling pregnant with my second child, I actually earn less than what it costs to put them in day care!

So I'm just not going to work.

Answer 10

lol where do you live If my son was in daycare I would have to pay 300 dollars a week. I too am trying to go back to work but I am trying to go to school as well. A part time job would be great for the two of us. Arent you ready to start working again? I have been waiting to work forever but I just dont trust the childcare in my area. I am not going back to work until my son is able to cope with other children he is only 7 months old and blind so that is one reason I wont return to work.

The mothers I know that have to pay for childcare usually spend ALL of there paycheck trying to pay for it. Why go to work if you are using 80% of your check paying for someone to watch your children. I think you should try to find out how much it would cost and then deduct it from your pay. If you arent making enough I really think you should spend time with your son until something better comes along.

Good luck