Childcare costs for striking teachers

josie.d

Do you work more than 16 hours a week? I would phone tax credits to see if they could help with childcare costs (they can help with up to 70% though not sure about the odd day), but do this quick and try to find childminder (if you decide to go down that route) asap as you will need time to arrange to meet them first, and finding a childminder can take time.

If you can't find anyone to have your children and you can't get help with costs (or indeed even find a childminder in the first place - they have ratios to stick to as to how many of each age group they can take on), then you might have to cut your losses and lose a days pay.

Good luck, hope you find a way round it

newmumincov

I booked the 30th off as holiday a couple of months back - as soon as I heard the date bandied around.

My last employer wasn't allowing emergency dependents leave or annual leave on the last teachers' strike. Luckily it was my last day so I managed to use up all my toil to take the time off (and begged my manager to OK it).

Spendless

My employer offers 'special leave' so it could be used for something like a strike, that you know of in advance, if you are unable to sort an alternative out.

With you saying it's a temp role, does that mean via an agency? You could just say you are unavailable for work that day if so, or is making up the hours at another time a possibility? Personally I'd go for the option that will cost you the least finanialy, whether that is lose a days pay or pay childcare x3.

My DD's primary has sent home a vague letter saying it doesn't know if it's open or closed. I've asked DH to work from home just in case!