Returning to work!!!

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I'm a single mum in the UK. I count myself truely lucky that I live in a country that allows mothers to make the decision to stay at home and look after their children even if the father isn't around anymore. I myself am a mother that couldn't bear to leave her children whilst they are young, after all why would I have them if I wanted to abandon them and return to work. Don't get me wrong I appreciate that this isn't the case for everyone and everyone has their own opinions! Anyway....my youngest is three and a half now. She starts school half days in September and I'm now looking at returning work. Whilst chatting to my friend it became apparant that a position may become available at her place of work. Nothing too glamourus, minimum wage but perfect hours....10 - 2. Monday to Friday! My little one can go to playschool five days like she wants (at present only goes 3), and my elder one is at school anyway! Brilliant! Until I check out how my money situation will lie if I was to take this job. Because my hours would be over 16 a week I am no longer entitled to income support...fair enough! I would move over to the working tax thingy! I lose my milk tokens (£3 p/wk), I lose my school meals (around (£10 p/wk). It works out that on a weekly basis, after transport to work, the remainder of childcare I have to pay, the rent and council tax I will have to pay, I will be around £20 a week worse off!!!! I want to go back to work, but how can i justify to my kids that even though I am working we are poorer than before! Alot of single mums claim they can't make ends meet on benefits..... that's twaddle! Yes its hard and you have to make sacrifices. You can't go out every week to the pub. But with careful management it's a comfortable life. Not great and luxuries need to be budgeted for but comfortable for daily living (which is what benefits are for, covering the essentials in life!). I'm at a complete loss as to what to do. I want to work and support my children, but how does the government consider that a family needs a minimum to live on from benefits but that they need less if the parent is working???? How do other people do it? Am I missing something here??? Sorry for the rant! But am hoping that some of you will have some great tips for me:) Please bear in mind that I'm in England and state systems vary considerably!!!