Childcare

We both work full time but went compressed so we both do 4 longs days which saves us 2 days a week on childcare costs. Is that something you could do? We pay about £600 a month this way (plus food etc as we have to send it)

We are currently paying £800 a month for our son to attend 4 days a week at a childminders. We do get the 20% tax free government help which is beneficial. We found that a childminder worked out more cost effective than a nursery. X

In NI and we pay around 900 a month for 4 days chilcare, this includes food and nappies. We use annual leave and my husband compresses his hours when he can to have one day at home with our little one. We are considering changing jobs and moving closer to our family for more support because of childcare costs.

I switched jobs just for this reason, I took a slightly lower paid job but in the evening and because we get to keep 100% of my wages we ended up better off meaning I only had to work 3 evenings a week x

Im in scotland too. My LG goes to nursery full time. My partner works at a uni so we're able to get her in uni nursery which is 990 per month. Compared to other nurseries close to where we live, this is the cheapest option for us (others were 1300 and 1450) for full time childcare including all meals

We are just south of London and pay circa £1100 a month for 3 days! It's a killer, but short term, funding will come in in September and our little ones will qualify for 30 hours free (pending meeting certain criteria). Based on when my eldest got 30hours this works out about half price.

We're based near Manchester and pay £540 a month for 2 days a week in nursery. That does include meals and we get thr 20% government help towards but couldn't afford extra days. Could you or your partner go part time or compress your hours as others have suggested? X

We don’t get any assistance with nursery costs - it’s £2000pcm - it’s ridiculous but I work full time so need 5 days care

How do compressed hours work? I already struggle to work 9-5 with nursery pick ups and drop offs so compressed hours I would 100% be skiving and my company would know that!!

@Francesca this was on offer at my previous employer, it's where you work your 40 hour week (example) over 4 days not 5. So my work day would be 7-5pm for 4 days, rather 9-5 over a 5 day week. Depending on your role it can be even more flexible with evening working hours etc so you could work 9-4 but do a couple of hours each evening. See if your company offers a flexible working scheme or ask for it to be considered if they don't already x

@Sara I think all companies by law have to offer flexible working? The thought of turning my laptop on in the evening is madness by the time I do bedtime and get dinner I would be working 8-10! I get the concept but I don’t see people doing the hours.

We work full time but both front line emergency services. I do 5 on 5 off (1 early, 2 lates and 2 half nights) partner works 6 on 4 off 2 earlies, 2 lates, 2 nights. Our son only needs to go 1 morning a week (I give which we need, months in advance as it’s different each week) when I come off my first half night so I can catch up on some sleep as my partner is on earlies when I’m on half nights. Basically one of us is always home when the other is at work! Sucks that we get less time off together but works for now x

I’m really lucky that I have family help and a day off midweek so I only have to pay for 2 days of childcare and that’s a childminder so she is cheaper than a nursery. Have you looked into tax free childcare? I imagine with you both working full time that will be all the help you’re entitled to. You won’t get any funded hours until they’re 3 sadly!

We pay £1300 full time 8-6 5 days a week, he only uses 3 days one week, 2 days the next and it rolls on as such but I have to pay full time to fit my shift pattern. It includes all meals and snacks. We use the tax free childcare from government to help, applying for funding for September 2024 when new funding comes in x

@Alisha🌸 how much tax free help do you get at present?

@Amy I was like that with my ex, so we didn’t need child care. Swings and roundabouts x

@Francesca sadly not. Both our jobs are that we are both required through out the day

@Lisa hiya! So it’s actual exact costings is 1320 a month, gets up to £593.41 over 3 months so it’s not much but it does help us. So in essence in 3 months we pay: 3366.59 They pay: 593.41 3 monthly total - 3960 We pay monthly into that account and pay out of it but that it just so you can see what it looks like as a whole, obviously if you’re paying less, it would help an awful lot x

We both compressed our hours. We do 4.5 days in 4 days so only cut 3.5 hours each per week. It helps we both work from home so have no commute. My husband has her Monday, I have her Friday. She goes to nursery 3 days per week. We get tax free so 20% reduction

I am on skilled worker visa in UK and BrP says no access to public funds - would i get free 15 hours childcare benefit ?