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Juggling nursery and the West End

Zoe Tyler is well known for her role as a celebrity voice coach and panelist on Any Dream Will Do but she is also a single mum who combines looking after son Jake with her many professional commitments

Zoe spoke exclusively to iVillage about how she manages her demanding schedule, including how she deals with the sensitive issue of childcare provision.

What challenges do you face combining your role as a West End voice coach with that of being a single parent?

Zoe Tyler: There are huge amounts of challenges I face working as a single mum. The main one is making sure Jake, my son, feels safe and happy when I am working and away from him. Now he is at school it is slightly easier.

How did you plan your childcare when working a gruelling schedule on Any Dream Will Do?

Zoe Tyler: When I was training the Josephs and working every day I did the whole contract without an au pair. It was not easy. I was picked up at 8am in the morning, so my friend, Lynelle (another mum) would drop him off at nursery. Then I had a child minder to pick him up and play with him until I got home at 6 or 7pm. It was hard to settle him down as I wanted to spend time with him after work but it was always quite late. He was happy with this so I felt less guilt.

What is a typical working day routine for you and your child?

Zoe Tyler: Our routine is never the same from week to week, that's why childcare is hard for me as a single mum. I have no work routine. One week I will do Loose Women on a Tuesday and Friday then the next it may be on a Friday and I might be filming something else with a pick-up time of 5am. Jake will either stay here with my friends or his dad will come over and help. Luckily I don't work everyday!

How easy did you find it going back to work after the birth of your child?

Zoe Tyler: Going back to work after I had Jake was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I went back to Fame the musical when Jake was four months old. It was a silly decision, as I had to drive two hours into town and back after the show finished at 10.15pm and only managed five hours sleep. I didn't finish the five-month contract, as it was too much. My husband and I were together at the time so at least I didn't do it alone.

How easy was it to settle your child into nursery and establish a routine?

Zoe Tyler: It was easy to settle Jake into nursery as he went to Child's Play in Earls Colne, which is a superb nursery, and Sally Head, the manager, was very kind and helpful.

What sort of support do you rely on as a single mum?

Zoe Tyler: Support from friends and family is so important. My family don't live that close so my good friends are dear to me.

The government has said that by 2010 all three and four-year-olds will be entitled to 15 hours a week of free care, for 38 weeks a year. How will this make life easier for mums in your position?

Zoe Tyler: I think the new idea is great. We should all be entitled to free childcare as working is hard with a child!

What words of encouragement do you have for working single mums?

Zoe Tyler: It is hard but your child will only benefit from growing up in a house where he knows mummy has to work. As long as they are happy, safe and secure, life will be good.

Zoe Tyler is raising awareness about working in the early years and childcare. For more information, go to www.childcarecareers.gov.uk or call 0800 99 66 00

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