Part time students can apply to the Hardship Fund. These are means tested benefits, taking into account your total financial needs. You can apply for a 'provisional assessment' in July, as long as you have details of your income and expenditure, including the cost of your childcare. If you incur further costs during the year, such as the cost of care during half term holidays, you can make a further application. Students may choose to use places in private or community nurseries, or with childminders.
Some parents choose to use a combination of services.
The choice is up to the individual student. You can get details of all services for children in this age group from the Sheffield Children's Information Service. They also provide information and advice leaflets about various aspects of childcare. Waiting lists in many nurseries are long, so put your name down early. There are fewer nursery places for children under two and these tend to be booked up very early.