What would you do in this situation (nursery and maternity leave)

FatVonD

If your son's nursery is attached to your workplace and if there wouldn't be a problem with him going back in why not take your son out of nursery for the year?

He would still get plenty of interaction with other kids if you did the rounds of the local toddler groups at just a fraction of the price of the nursery plus it'd get you out of the house too?

fabforty

Pakkun wrote: »

Thank you for your response, onlyroz and Always_Alone.
And thank you for congratulating me on my second baby!


No, I do not claim child care voucher but use salary sacrifice scheme which deduct the nursery fee from my salary before tax deduction. I do not understand the difference between them fully so may need to investigate which one give me more benefit.


Our DS1 will be one and a half years old when the second baby arrives. I thought that the funding (15-hour free space?) is available from 3 years old. Is it from two? If so, it would be a great news!


Pakkun

The 15 free hours is available from the age of two in certain circumstances. As I understand it, families who would qualify for free school meals (low income and in receipt of certain benefits) can get it, and also if there is a social or medical need. My son had a speech delay and mild development delay, and was recommended for early years funding at the age of two, even though we do not claim anything. Check with your local authority, but it doesn't sound as if you would qualify.

Pakkun

Thank you for your suggestions, TBagpuss, FatVonD and Fabforty.


My hubby may be able to either take DS1 to the nursery but I would probably take him back home if we decide to send him part-time (such as morning only). In addition, he will take the paternity leave for the first two weeks plus the annual leaves for one or two weeks, I would probably be able to stay at home with the baby for the first month. So my problem would be how to manage the nursery run and looking after the newborn from the second month.


TBagpuss, you are right that it might be wiser to decide once our No. 2 is born as I do not know how my life afte no. 2 will be. Thank you for reminding me of this.


FatvonD, yes, that was my original intension (joining as many toddler's group as possible) while I am on the maternity leave. By doing that, DS1 keeps some social interaction and I could meet new people there while looking after no. 2. However, my hubby wishes to keep DS1 in the nursery... If we decide to keep him there but, say, two days a week instead of four, I would take him to the local groups to keep him entertained.


Fabforty, thank you for explaining the 15 hours free space. I am probably not eligible for it but it is always good to know the rule.


So, I take it that the general consensus is "not return to work as soon as possible but take it, say, for 9 months but consider either reducing DS1's nursery to part-time or switch to less-expensive options such as childminder or local toddlers group". It is very interesting to know this as for me, not returning to work as soon as possible has never come across to my mind!


Pakkun

notanewuser

Pakkun wrote: »

Thank you for your response, onlyroz and Always_Alone.
And thank you for congratulating me on my second baby!


No, I do not claim child care voucher but use salary sacrifice scheme which deduct the nursery fee from my salary before tax deduction. I do not understand the difference between them fully so may need to investigate which one give me more benefit.

Whatever you do do not stop this. Your employe will have to continue this on top of SMP (if they don't top it up at all).

Pakkun

Thank you, notanewuser.
I will make sure that I will not opt out from the scheme while I am on the maternity leave whatever I decide in the end!


Pakkun

theoretica

Another thing to throw into the mix is your OH taking additional paternity leave if you return to work in less than a year.

ahomemadetouch

i haven't read all the posts 2 year funding in normally if you have a household income of under 16000 but i think thats just wages not stuff like tax credits.
i would probably let your lb go to nursery part time, maybe speak to tax credits as you might get more help when your wage drops

Kynthia

I don't have first hand experience but I can tell you what I've been told and observed. My close friend found her second maternity leave harder than her first. Her friends from the first time where back at work, she couldn't do many of the same classes with an older child too, a lot of other new mums she met were first timers and didn't really want to spend a lot of time with someone who had an older child due to it being easier and familiar to stick with those of just the same age. Therefore it may be easier for you to socialise and bond with others if your older child is in nursery for a couple of days.
Another found she could get more done round the house when her older child went to nursery for a couple of days while the other slept. Plus the older child disturbed the baby quite a bit and they appreciated the attention they got at nursery whereas my friend often had to divide her attention or prioritise the baby.
I personally would accept the offer to keep the older child in nursery but probably 2-3 days a week. Whole days would tempt me as I would find it more disrupting to drop them off and collect them only 3 hours later.

Pakkun

Thank you for your reply, theoretica and ahomemadetouch.


Yes, I am also looking into the possibility of sharing the maternity leave with my husband, though unfortunately the new rule does not apply to our baby as the due date is before 5th April.


Thank you for further explanation about the 2-year funding. I will definitely check whether I am entitled to any benefit if our household income drops.


Thank you very much for everyone who have shared your knowledge and view on my predicament! I am now leaning towards taking a longer maternity leave and send DS1 to the nursery part-time (though reduced) if I can sort out the logistic issue.


Best,


Pakkun

Pakkun

Dear Kynthia,


Thank you for your comments. One thing which I am looking forward to during my maternity leave (other than having our second baby, of course) is to meet new moms as I could not make any so-called 'mom friends' last time I had DS1. So hearing from you about your friend's case is really interesting.


I agree with you regarding the negatives of dropping off DS1 at the nursery and picking him up after 4 or 5 hours later, though I never thought about it until I read your post. More thinking needed!


Pakkun


Pakkun