To think the 30 free hours should start when your job does

[Advicewouldbelovelyta]

So stressed right now
I've been applying for jobs all summer, I've finally got one starting next week. I've applied for the 30 free hours and got the code BUT they've said the code doesn't activate till January!
They've said I should've applied before this term started but how can you apply before even getting a job??

Hi, afaik the 30 hours isn’t related to whether you are working or not, but to the age of the child

I don't understand your OP at all. Why do you have to wait 3 months?

For the child to be 3.

Oh right. That was absolutely not clear at all.

It should but there is no leeway at all the cut off dates are

Apply before 31st August for term September -December

Apply before 31 December for January March

Apply march 31 for April to July

If you apply after the cut off of 31 August, 31 December or 31 March it doesn’t start til the next term this is because the way of the funding works. Also remember if you do not renew your code within those three months and miss the cut off then you will loose out until the next funding term

When does/did your DC turn 3?

Depending on the age of your child there are deadlines, so I think if you missed the deadline of the end of August then this will be why.

Even if the OP’s DD is already 3 (and was born before 1 September), you have to apply for the funded hours at the start of every term.

OP, is your DD not already getting 15 hours though? So surely it is only an additional 15 hours that you won’t get until January.

The 30 hour funding is absolutely related to whether parents work or not. If you don't work, you're not eligible for it.

And yes, unfortunately you won't be able to use it until January - it's just how the scheme works.

To be fair it works the other way too - if you stop working mid term, the funding is honoured until the end of term, not cut off the minute you stop working.

It's the Universal element - what used to be known as the Free Education Entitlement - that is free for all children from the term after their 3rd birthday. It's for 15 hours.

The Extended element is another free 15 hours on top of that for working parents.

He is already 3 and will need to be in for 8 hours a day while I'm at work.
It's just frustrating that it's meant to help parents to be able to go to work but if you manage to get a job after the term starts then you have to wait for the 30 hours.
For me it's the difference between paying £50ish a week (with the 30 free hours) and £150ish a week until January.

The problem being that my invoices for preschool will come before my first wage so covering it will be very difficult

The deadlines are there to stop people applying ad hoc, because then it would be difficult and more expensive to administrate.

I sympathise but at least you will get the 30 hours. Plenty of providers are not able to offer it.

Yes what Cadbury said. We qualify but no one can afford to offer it around here. It's a postcode lottery.
I do sympathise but if they gave it everyone that wasn't working then that would drive the cost up.

It's pretty crap anyway ime. Our place charges an extra £10 a day for food when you're using the free hours. With that and it actually only being 20 hours a week as it's term time only and prorataed, we barely save anything.

Did your child turn 3 this term OP, or are you saying that even if they're 3 before the term starts, if you start working you won't get the hours until the next term? If the latter, that seems like a barrier in the way of people returning to work.

Firstly congratulations on getting the job!

It's not ideal I know, but I think you just need to take the long view, as you do with buying work clothes etc. It's still a good initiative, I wish it had been there when we were paying for nursery!

PaulDacrreRimsGeese

He was 3 last November. I start work next week but because I didn't apply for the funding in august, he won't be funded until January.

@Mammylamb

Hi, afaik the 30 hours isn’t related to whether you are working or not, but to the age of the child

^This is wrong

Hi, afaik the 30 hours isn’t related to whether you are working or not, but to the age of the child

Hi, afaik the 30 hours isn’t related to whether you are working or not, but to the age of the child

TangelasVine
I am starting a full time job next week, I only got offered the job a week ago. I wouldn't apply if I wasn't working as I thought it was to help parents be able to afford to go to work

Fishforclues
Thank you
I can cope with paying for work clothes, but my first childcare invoice (1 month before my first paycheck) is over £400 and that's due end of this month with him starting next week.

It's because it operates termly. So 31st August is the cut off for 1st September. You can claim the 15 as that is universal. Plus you can get taxfree childcare now you are earning and the government top up 20% - it's the same online system.

Interestingly but probably a bit late for you. The first year of self employment is exempt from the earnings criteria. So a small amount of freelance whilst job hunting is a possibility for the gap. I realise not useful to you now but might be for others.

And outside of term time you won't even get the 15 hours. So be prepared for big bills in months like August - depending on term dates.

TangelasVine
I'll be working in a school so luckily I only need term time