You work childcare out by finding a breakfast/after school/holiday club or childminder. You take AL as much as you can in school hols both of you (me and DH only have same time off if we are actually going away). It is probably helpful if 1 of you works p-time, as that may allow you to more flexible with your hours eg swapping day x for day y if your child is ill, or working longer on a different day to make time up. Some companies allow unpaid time off without you having to jump thru hoops. I took a phone call at my new employers today from my childcare provider to say my 8yo had thrown up and could I go and collect her asap, fortunately my ILs were still in and could help, but another 10 mins I'd have missed them, my line manager imeediately told me not to stress as the company had special leave in place in order to deal with such incidents of this nature. Ask your own employer if they do such a thing. I do currently get both child tax and working tax credit which we are living off of on a weekly basis as all my monthly wages pay the bills. I currently rent my house from housing association and am in huge debt with them, I have recently been handed a notice to seek possession but have made an agreement with them to pay the debt off in order for them