Is it possible to study with kids?

In our class of 39, only 5 do not have children... so definitely doable, but needs lots of organisation skills and multitasking

It is certainly much more challenging with family commitments, but at the end of the day it only gets harder when you qualify and required to work full time. During the course you will have 50% of your time at uni and 50% in placement. I find it easier to manage my uni time with childcare, as it's generally 9-5 hours. However, shift work is a different matter, but essential for providing 24 hour a day care for our women! Being a student provides you and your family to experience what it is like working shift work, so everyone has the time to adapt.

My youngest started school when I began my training and has adapted well, but my 11 year old has found it much harder. I have a very supportive husband and family and the use of breakfast and afterschool clubs, and wouldn't be able to do it without them. I take my hat off to anyone undertaking this role, but can say that I've loved the journey so far!!!

I have 5 kids, in september they will be 14,11,7,5 and just 2 and am hoping for a place this year.

After looking around and listening to other people we are seriously considering a nanny as they only have your kids so no concern's about whether they can make it to your school and are much more flexible with evenings/weekends if needed.

Things are slowly falling into place and as we have been stay at home parents finding a way to keep the babies happy as we don't like change in our house (lol), being in their own home obviously makes them more comfortable.

It can be done

Ladies im really keen to apply for KCL what are the shift patterns like?? i dont drive at the moment and i live an hour train journey away so what would happen with overnight shifts etc, how do you do it?? xx ill hopefully be starting 2013 xx

Hi, Generally 12 hours shifts, and depending what hospital you get, start times vary between 7 and 8.30 (either am or pm). A few of us have an hour/2hour commute. it is doable but can mean some very early starts. Good luck!

oh thats lovely, if its a basic set time thats completely doable, i was worried i might have to make my way in at 3am or something!!!, also at kcl do you know if i can have a deferred start? i was going to apply for 2013 but my youngest starts school in 2014 and i figure i wont get that year back, but i can start uni whenever i want, so im unsure wether to apply for 2013 and defer if i can? xx

Hi
Yes it is possible but you need flexible childcare - lots of people have said you get financial help with childcare - this isn't always the case - if your husband has a good job ( like mine) you get nothing - I don't even qualify for a bursary. Flexibility and being organised are key......we rely heavily on our parents and are incredibly lucky - if wasn't for them then I wouldn't be following my dream. I think you are more focused because you have to be - we don't have that little luxury of time!! good luck x
p.s kcl used to do deferred entry - not sure now - although I do hear the numbers in the cohorts are getting ridiculous in size! x

Oh dear Kings 10, that's not good news .

What if you don't have flexible childcare; what if you don't have parents who are willing or able to help at all? Is it not possible then i your opinion? We have no-one who can help us with childcare & my husband & I were discussing it last night. We will get help so can probably get a childminder, but I'm not sure they're what you'd call 'flexible' - even the best of them? To be honest I'm starting to feel quite sick about it all and very fearful of how on earth we'll all manage and the massive sacrifice that I'm asking of my children. Our 3 older ones are going to have to become latchkey kids, but the youngest is too young. Your post has completely freaked me out - and now I feel sick inside. I've waited a long time to be able to do this so to hear that it's only possible if you've got something that is seemingly unattainable to us is a real blow.

MissisMac, have you considered seeing if your partner could work flexible dad days? My husband does this, and it will mean one day a week we won't have to find money for childcare! Basically it means he works 5 days hours in 4 days, so he starts pretty early and finishes a bit later, but covers all his hours in 4 days so has the 5th day off. There are a few professions which don't allow this (teachers I think etc), but most dads are legally allowed to pursue it, and appeal if the workplace rejects it. It might be worth finding out about it, as reducing childcare expenses by even one day will make quite a big financial difference! Also I love the fact the kids will be with one of us for a day! We are then doing a combination of nursery and child minders, I have a 3 year old and 1 year old, and determined to make it work! You will find a way! x

Hi, I see you have got an aupair to help with childcare. How are you finding it? My husband is self employed at the moment but we are moving to a new county in September when I start and he would like to change to a career that involves shift work so I was thinking about an aupair. Where did you find them and are they expensive? Sorry so many questions!