[JaneStGeorge]

Am hoping to go to uni next year and am looking at putting DS's name down on a few daycare waiting lists but not sure whether it's best to have him in a centre close to home or close to where I want to study. As I only want to study part time, it's also hard to know how many days and which days I'll need him in care. Any else have this problem?

[mich]

Good luck with your study nxt year1

I would personally go for the near home day care. Thats what I did with my munchkins for the last 3 years and it worked out well.
I found near home better because, if you have a tut or lecture finish early or a no contact week you can go home do assignments and then go get bubs if they are only a short distance. Also if I had an afternoon lecture, all-day care was more economical than half day care, so I would have the morning to study or write assignments at home.
It is hard not knowing your days yet. Maybe if you contact the student services for your faculty of study they might be able to tell you either the probable days or when the list will be posted. If you explain the day-care situation they may be willing to help a bit. The timetable for this semester could be a rough guide also, often courses run at the same days for a few years if there are no major course structure changes.
I do know what you are going through and can empathise. Luckily for me ds and dd day-care were really helpful with squeezing them in and day changes.

Mich

[samson]

I am the opposite to Mich, I have found it is nice to have dd on campus with me. Personally I find it easier to commit to my tute reading in the library rather than at home, and if dd is booked in care from x until y I feel obligated to stay on campus and study, rather than tootle of home and watch Oprah. As you might gather I have some self discipline issues, you may be more motivated than I am.
Also I am still breastfeeding so if she needs a feed I can duck in in the middle of the day.
Another thing is that on campus childcare centres usually have a very good reputation. I don't know why, my best guess is that universities are the home of equality etc and they are therefore very supportive and flexible (and probably more closely scrutinised, by the university and the accrediting body). Even a friend in Canada who is a childcare worker told me that on campus centres are often the best. Bear in mind that this is not a quantifiable fact only hearsay I have been told.

[mich]

Our uni may be different, but the on-campus child care is privately owned (jelly-beans) and not exclusive to uni students. It is part of a chain of others so offers what ever the others offer. It charges similar costs to others so no benefits that way.

i guess being post-grad I may be different as there isnt that much to do on campus when I am not in a seminar/ tutorial. All my stuff is on MY computer and my computer is linked to uni databases, so I prefer to know that I can always access it instead of waiting in printer cues and fighting for resources.

I am more motivate dat home! at uni there is always someone to chat to....

Mich