Childcare
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Going back to work once your baby is born is a challenge and choosing the best childcare for your new born can seem like an endless task, as well as the constant juggle of your nine to five job, long hours and the dreaded commute back and to from work every day can just seem to much.

Start by thinking about flexible working or part-time hours, approach your employer and ask, try and create a win-win situation that both your employer and yourself are happy with.

You do have the right to ask for flexible working hours as stated in the Employment Act 2002, but this does not mean your request will be granted, you may be turned down only for reasons relating to sound business grounds.

Childcare

You must think early on about your day care options as some nurseries have waiting lists up to nine months long, so plan ahead and investigate your options whilst you are pregnant, believe me the time goes so quick and before you know it your back to work

A great site to consider is www.childcarelink.gov.uk , this is a FREE site offering great advice and guidance on choosing suitable childcare in your local and surrounding areas. It has a wide variety of options for your to choose from, please take a look below at some of the options available.

Childminders
Day Nurseries
Pre-School Play Groups
Toddler Groups
Holiday Schemes
Out of School Care

A great site to bookmark and refer to from time to time.

Tax Credits

Work on your budget, nursery providers and the like are usually not cheap, especially if you are thinking of returning to your workplace on a part-time basis. If you are going to work for more then 16 hours a week you may be entitled to working tax credit, see www.workingfamilies.org.uk for some great advice and information.

You may also find that the working tax credit element includes an amount to help you with your nursery cost provisions.

Childcare Vouchers

Other options to help you keep the costs down are childcare vouchers, this is a great way to help reduce your weekly/monthly costs. You pay no National Insurance on your vouchers and make tax free savings of up to £55 per week.

A lot of employers now offer a voucher scheme of some sort, its very quick and easy to get set-up. One thing you must remember is that your vouchers will only cover child careers who are registered and approved.

Ask your provider for there ofstead registarion number, make sure when you are checking nursery places out that they are registered and approved.

A great site to consider is www.child care choice.co.uk they offer loads of information on vouchers, very practical and well worth a look.

Trust Fund Accounts

To help with the costs, especially as your little one grows up the government now provides a long term savings and investment account for children. Children born after 1st September 2002 will receive £250 to start their account off.

This will be sent in the form of a voucher and the parent/guardian will be required to open a trust fund account for the vouchers to be deposited into. The account belongs only to the child and can not be touched until they turn 18, so that children have some money behind them to start their adult life.

For further information please visit www.childtrustfund.gov.uk , you would be amazed at the amount of unclaimed vouchers that have never been deposited into trust fund accounts, please do not let your child's free voucher's go to waste, their future is in your hands.

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