i tired a few nurseries and they all charge round £125 mark for a 1yr old for a week where i live in manchester.

i think your right about the over capacity in childcare, as each place we went to had places free, as for the childminder, we've used her for a couple of years to look after our 8yr old daughter, and when she found out we was putting our 1yr old into a nursary she nearly begged us to let her look after him, becuase like you said over capacity.

we even got her to look after our daughter in the school holidays, 5hrs a day, 5 days a week for £50 a week (because thats the price some school holiday clubs charge here )

as for the care home, i have to pay a top up fee of £65 to the local council a month as the home charge more than the council will pay still i'm not complaining, they wanted her to pay it all

sorry for the filipinos who worked and settled here, only to find out they have to go back becuase their permit will not be renewed..