Nursery fees/funding.

[BlackWell89]

Hi all

I am currently in the process of adopting my son and was told we could get extra funding as he is classed as a looked after child.

He is now 19 months old and I would love him to start (mainly for my sanity lol) one day a week.

We live within the Dudley council.

Does anyone know if we are entitled to the funding and how I go about applying ----or do we have to wait for the free 15 hours when he is two.

Hi @BlackWell89
Might be something helpful here

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds-claim-benefits

It will start the term after he turns 2 and he will be eligible for Pupil Premium Plus (this isn’t money you will see but the nursery/his school will get). It used to be that adopted children got 15 hours free from 2 but now this is a universal thing. At 19 months, you would be paying the full price for nursery until the term after he turns 2.

Yes, I think you'd have to fund it yourself until the term after he turns two.

The fifteen hours now being universal from age two has undoubtedly put pressure on availability so I would start looking around at childcare providers now to see what they can offer, as places do get booked up. I started my son on half a day a week when he was about 20 months, just to get some time back for myself, and increased his hours when I went back to work, which fortunately was more or less when the funding kicked in.

Have a look at tax free childcare though. https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare I'm not an expert on this as I'm still on the old system but it will take the edge off the costs.

Thanks all.