Childcare

Hi there,

Am planning off applying for 2010 at that point my ds will be 4 (Starts school) ds2 will be 3 and my baby will be a year and a half.

I know that the nhs only give you up to 180 and thats mean tested.
Am just worryed about the cost of childcare.

I was thinking of a au pair as this would be the cheapest way.

Wondering if anyone has any advice.

I don't have any family here there's 400 miles away and OH family all work early hours and stuff.

thanks
xxxx

Forgot to add nights aren't a problem for me as my OH would be doing that as well as weekends, plus if the kids are sick he can take days off as he works for his dad which is a good.

I am sure i read that you can claim 85% of your childcare back, but am not 100% sure on that, maybe contact the uni you will applying to?
Welcome by the way xx

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Mummy to Jordan 14, Angel 3, Elliott 2, and too many sleeping s xxxxxx

you will not be able to claim childcare back if you are using an au pair. NHS Bursary only pays towards Ofsted Registered providers. (they pay to you, but wont pay out unless using ofsted approved childcare IYSWIM?) They will pay 85% towards your costs. So depending on the total, it may actually be cheaper to pay an au pair?
For the size of your brood and if you have the space, an au pair sounds like a really great flexible option.

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

yeh but you can claim up to 85% but they only pay up too £180 a week for two or more. as stated here http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/sgu/Allowanc...e/default.aspx

Your childcare and bursary has nothing to do with the uni, its the nhs that provides it.

Just wondering how other people with my size of brood do it.

thanks

yes that is correct! The NHS bursary will pay childcare, dependants and bursary allowance where applicable. The Ofsted bit, if that is where I have confused you? refers to the childcare providers that you use, not the uni?! Or have i misunderstood what you are trying to say?

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Hi i've got 4 kids and if you've seen any of my other posts you'll know i've had a nightmare with childcare costs. My family all live away so i had costs for all 4 kids. My hubby earns £30k a year and my childcare costs were £16k a year ( 2 full time nursery and 2 childminder after school), NHS bursaries worked out that we would not be entitled to any childcare allowance or dependant allowance and so i had to leave my place in uni as we couldn't afford the childcare fees. I knew we wouldn't get the full 85% but i didn't think we'd get no support.
It's a complete nightmare and unfortunately theres no way of second guessing what entitlement will be nhs calculator or not. It's definately worth looking for affordable childcare and base it around not getting any allowances that way if you do get some there a bonus x

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Mummy to 4 and lovin it!

Hi I don't know if this is any help, but I have 4 kids and am starting next week. I have an au pair coming from Mexico at a the cost of £70 a week!!!! I would say its well worth looking into send me a private msg if you want anymore info.xxxxxx
We will not be entitled to any help but we have applied for the loan and bursary just to cover her costs as for us it was the cheapest option.. And it seems to work....

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TVU -Accepted! Yay!!

If it means me getting through the course I don't mindxxxxxxxxxxx

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TVU -Accepted! Yay!!

Hi

I've got four children and I don't get any help with child care costs. Having tried to pay a child minder for over a year, I am now going down the au pair route, as have many of the girls I am at uni with. It does seem to be the cheapest option.