I'm going to be studying full time (4 days a week) from September and I'm having a dilemma over childcare!

My mum is a childminder about 10 minutes away. Problem is I don't know if I can get funding help because she is my mum (where I get 85% paid for childcare normally) - though she is ofsted registered. My OH is also really allergic to cats and my mum has 3 - even if he's near them for 5 minutes his eyes swell so he can't see and he pretty much goes to sleep for the rest of the day, lol. Also my daughter would have to go to a different nursery which I really don't want to happen.

I could split them so my daughter goes to a childminder and my son goes to my mum but that feels really wrong!

That said I know my son would be happy with my mum - where if it was a new childminder I would be far more worried about him. My children both know my mum's childminded children really well and I know if there was a problem she is experienced and can deal with it.

What would you do? Are there other options?

I hate that they have to go into childcare at all! It's really putting me off studying tbh, even though it's for the best.

Does your mum know any other childminders who could take them both?
I'd be reluctant to split them too.

My mum isn't very sociable with other childminders - she's the only one in her village. I live 10 mins away so would find a childminder here.

Someone just suggested to that I send my daughter to nursery full time (can pay for the othr hours) but again it's like splitting them up when I don't have to :/