Escalating Childcare Costs
Do you have trouble paying for your childcare?
The Daycare Trust claim that childcare costs are rising nationally above the rate of inflation with parents paying more than £8,000 per annum.
The charity says that costs rose by 5% last year with inflation standing at 2.1 %.
Britons pay more for childcare than anywhere else in Europe.
Many parents do not seem to be making use of the financial support available through the tax credit system or childcare vouchers from employers. Scottish fees fell slightly, with a typical nursery place costing £141 a week this year.
Do you have trouble paying for your childcare? Tell us your story and we will post it on our website.
The views expressed in this discussion are the opinions of others and do not reflect the views of One Parent Families Scotland.
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Hi
I am single mother if twin two year old and I work part time just 17.5 hr a week I find my child care cost huge for that 17 hrs I pay 850 per month I only get paid 600 from my job lucky the government pay me 550 towards it otherwise I wont be able to work. What really really annoys me tho I that have tried to them in to a council nursery which would be 250 per month saving both me and the government alot per month . I have tried three time and alway feel like I am getting fob off . I am now trying again for April but it so stressful . I would probably be better off quoting my job which is something for my own pride I don't want to do.
I rekcon you are quite dead on with that.
I work in the field of free money and debt advice and see issues like this all the time. I also am a working mum of 3 boys. My family lives 180 miles away up north and it has been a heck of a struggle over the last 9 years juggling studies, voluntary roles, jobs and babies! I can only thank tax credits for what they did for me. Without tax credits I would be unemployed and would be in poverty with no future at all. Benefits are lousy for mums.
I had to work at a "loss" for 2 years when the jobs I got in the charity sector only covered my childcare. i knew things would get better and I was right. All I can say is try and see what the balance would be between you having another wee job and doing studies via the OU so you can have kids and earn a bit and get skills for your future employment. Its so worth it, I promise.
I run my own business with my new hubby ( a great guy: my ex was rubbish!) and I own my own home. Now I help people like all of you as my experience is invaluable.
Ladies: there is hope its just a hard road at first. x
I was disgusted to hear on the news that there are parents not only single, but married parents,too that are having to consider giving up work because they are worse off when they have paid out the childcare. I remember when the welfare reform was born and 1 comment always adheres in my mind something along the lines of "we have bought in these changes as we are serious about ending child poverty, well then if that is the case can anyone please tell me how forcing single parents into jobs when they can/may not be able to afford the childcare so therefore they could be worse off is ending child poverty? , Oh and the famous words from the government was the help for childcare is, wait for it!!! fair. Our wonderful government are getting too fond of this word now and T.B.H it gets more and more patronising everytime i hear it, because there is nothing fair about parents again both single and married having to go out to work and be out of pocket. Also I mean absolutly no disrespect at all to childminders, they are too only doing a job themselves.x
I just got if the phone with the jobcentre and was reduced to tears , I have always worked but had to stop due to my youngest Childs health , I have been moved from IS to JSA , I was told that if a job came up I must take it or face loosing my benefit, the after school club is full and there is no family to help out , I was advised that in Scotland you can leave you child on there own so I can go to work !
My kids are 8 and 10 ,
And ahhh. You might think ask their FATHER , after all they are his children , well he works during the day but I did say to him that a night- shift job would be better for me , 1st I wouldn't need to pay child care for the school holidays and after schclubs,2nd if the kids were sent home from school I'll I won't be loosing a day or weeks wage, his quick reply was NO , I asked him why , he said his girlfriend would chuck him out !!! GREAT DAD!
By the way to all out there who have bashed single parents ....
All I wanted was a family,
And I love my kids with all my heart, it's just a disgrace how people always point the finger at the parent that is there to care and always put the welfare of the kids first, no-one seems to point the finger at the dads that never do a bloody thing,
I had to reply to your comment, for you to be told that it is fine to leave an 8 and 10 year home alone while you go out to work is beyond dispicable and I bet it made you (quite rightly) somewhat angry to be told "you can leave your child on their own while you go out to work", and I suppose the person that made this comment would not let the wind blow on their own child" and fair enough, too. It seems to me that this government are that against lone parents that they do not give a damn about the welfare of their (lone parents) children. and examples like yours seem to back up my belief of this more and more. I have always be a lone parent and I think in some ways in is easier as I have never known any different. However I completly agree with you about the government penilising the parent who provides the care and nurturing and not show any anger toward the absent parent. Either this government has not thought things through or maybe they are even more cold hearted than I actually thought, or are lone parents simply an easy target? What a pity they are not as tough on the banks as they are on lone parents. And people are wondering why the birth rate is through the roof well lets be honest (it is single parents going out and getting pregnant to return to income support and to stop the pressure of having to look for phantom jobs, Another point I would like to make is if you do find employment and you are expected to leave your children how on earth are you expected to do your job well worrying about the welfare of your children What sort of a world are we living in? x
I am a single father and have two high school age daughters to look after. My problem is that I work overseas for 10 weeks at a time, followed by 10 weeks off. A family member used to look after the girls during my time away, but is no longer able to do this. When I am home it is no problem as I have the full 10 weeks and am perfectly capable of looking after them, but I need to know what options are available to me for the time I am away. Are there childminders who can live in for the ten weeks I am away? Where can I find one?
Childcare costs are outragious. I used to work but had to give up work as i didnt earn enough to cover all my childcare expenses .
Childcare needs to be available first before I can struggle to pay for it. Sadly, here it is not an option.
I done a College course last year and the Job Centre paid for my son's childcare as i had been on income support for over a year, however they only cover the costs for 1year.
hope this helps.
Karen.
Hello, This is a great facility. I am a single mum of a son who is 8 years old. I have been in further education and employment since he was 3 months old.
I have found a hurdle in regards to tax credits. I am earning a ok wage, however i am now unable to take promotion due to being penilised for higher wage (sorry cannot spell). If it was just childcare affected it would be manageable. However then i loose my NHS entitlements.
When i return to work after the xmas period i will discuss your site and training opportunities with my manager. As we work with many single parents who are at risk or are homeless.
Thanks
Louise
Dear Angela,
There are other sources of funding that can make up the shortfall in your childcare costs. In particular, the Horizons Education Fund specifically supports lone parents and do help with childcare costs. Have a look at http://www.yourhorizons.com/youreducation.html for details of how to apply. Alternatively, please ring our lone parent helpline on 0808 801 0323 and we can send you information by post.
I am single parent who has no family. I have raised my daughter for 6 years and am now in college doing an full time accsses course. I got my child in to after school care after going to my msp. I ame any advice for me on income support . the college say they will only pay £27 out of £45 for child care. I canot affored to pay the £18 extra. do you have any advice for me. I am told the child care will be termanated if i dont pay.
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