Nursery funding query

[Beetham]

Hi All,

I was hoping someone may be able to point me towards information about 15/30 hours funing for my yongest daughter- I've looked online, asked virtual school and portage but no-one is sure as our situation is a bit specific. I don't think I'm going to be able to return to work (certainly within the next year) due to the chidren's needs but would really value 30 hours of childcare. When I've read online if you are on adoption leave you qualify for 30 hours but must return to work within 31 days (in my opinion this is ludicrous- the child is going to need alot of care and support over the transition to nursery?!), my child is not ready for me to return in October and to be honest I'm not sure it's do-able full stop. Our situation:

-single adopter
-DD was 3 in May
-DD is placed with me, I've not applied for AO yet but will be doing so soon
-DD is on higher rate DLA for both care and mobility, very complex disabilities and she will be attending a special needs nursery from Sep 2023
-I'm on adoption leave, was hoping to take until Jan 2024 although it's now realisitcally looking like I won't be able to return at all
-I'm currently getting stat adoption pay through work and some universal credit

Thanks All!

Hi @Beetham

I’m afarid the complexities of nursery funding are beyond me, however have you discussed adoption allowance with the LA? If you unable to work you would also qualify for carer’s allowance as she is in receipt of DLA. its not much but would help.
good luck, you have a lot on your plate

Definitely speak to the LA about an adoption allowance, they can be hard to come by but in your circumstances you’d meet the criteria. I too know nothing about nursery funding I’m afraid there must be something for parents who can’t return to work.

Thanks both, I have put in an application for adoption allowance, I don't qualify yet for carers allowance as adoption pay is over the earnings threshold but there is a carers element to the universal credit. Adoption allowance would make a big difference but I just feel in desperate need of more robust child care, due to DD's needs it's really difficult to leave her with anyone and I was really hoping for a full nursery experience- both for me and her.

She's absolutely brilliant and brings such joy to me, her older sister and the wider family. Due to her disability being very significant that is what everyone sees but it's the everyday reality of her trauma and attachement needs that are so much work and it's hard to get people to see that. The placing authority are useless and her social worker is on a children with disabilities team with no LAC or adoption experience!

I'm not an expert in funding for two- and three-year-olds, but I do understand the basic principles of it.

Funding for two-year-olds is 15 hours and means tested, except for looked after, or preciously looked after children who qualify automatically.

Funding for three-year-olds is very different. Looked after status has no bearing on eligibility. There is an automatic right to 15 hours for all 3-year-olds. The extra 15 hours (30 in total) is intended to support working parents. If there are two parents they both need to be in work, or for a single parent you need to be in work. And as you have already found out, being on maternity or adoption leave still counts as being in work, but if you leave your job you would no longer be eligible.

There are a few cases where non-working parents are also considered eligible and these are outlined here: https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare under 'If you are not currently working', but it doesn't sound like you would meet this criteria either, and I think when you say no-one is sure, what you mean is no-one can find a way to show that you are eligible, because you don't meet the criteria.

I can feel your frustration, but as others have advised, adoption allowance would seem to be the more appropriate avenue to fund the additional hours.

The government website does mention that those who claim carers allowance would be able to access the 30 hours. I would imagine you would not be claiming that currently since you are still taking home a salary, but could you claim that when you leave your job? The eligibility for that is here:

Thanks so much @sunshineandskyscrapers , the difficulty is that I can't pay privately for the nursery she's attending to top up the hours over the 30 hours as they only accept funded places so it hinges on whether we qualify for 15 or 30 hours. Adoption allowance would still bring me limited ability for childcare as she needs specialist care and provision is very thin on the ground (even employing somone privately). When I say that no-one has been able to give me a clear idea unfortuantely I mean that literally, at least if I had a clear 'no' then I could start planning accordingly.

I think I must have skimmed over the carers allowance section but once my adoption leave finishes and I don't return to work then I would qualify. I think I skimmed over as it says 'You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get carers allowance' and I don't have a partner. I wonder if there is a way to check if this counts for a single carer, I wish there was just a helpline I could ring!