Nursery help? How does it work? Vouchers?

[Ohmygaw]

Hi I have just joined and I am looking for advice, my DD is 13 months old and I am a sahm. I go to groups with her but I would like to start sending her to nursery for a few mornings a week. What do I need to do?DH works 35+ hours a week, do we get childcare vouchers etc or anything. Do I go to the nursery first or check that we get these vouchers that ppl are telling me about?thank you

. I say I do as DH works away quite a bit, we have no family nearby at the moment so I need a little bit of downtime, but as I have stated I will pay for it. It’s just the typical attitude of “oh you have money so you can’t complain” I can’t stand!

I haven't had downtime in 2 years! I work full time and have a toddler outside of work! I also have no family that help out. It's just what having kids is a part of!

I think OP is getting a hard time here. If she lives in England then when her child is three he / she will be entitled to 15 hours free childcare a week in term time regardless of parental income. The primary driver of this policy is because the government recognises the benefits for children of a pre-school education. It was never intended to be a childcare subsidy - it was about education.

The 30 hour entitlement came later and I understand the main driver of that policy was to support both parents into work. But that doesn’t alter the reason for the original 15 hours entitlement.

....I need a little bit of downtime

Everyone needs this, I get that. However it is not a need that is so desperate that the state should fund it!

Preschool education is one thing. I would disagree it is necessary but that's by the by. But a 13 month old doesn't need it.

Well that's true bobble....studies show that early years education is of benefit to many childten of 3 and up....hence the funded hours

The op's child is 13 months.

I'm assuming this child sleeps occasionally? That's your downtime unfortunately.

Do you have any other emojis 🙄

Agree Hazey, but I could imagine OP has heard something about free hours and then has got the wrong end of the stick. I remember a lot of people I knew when I had DC got a shock when they realised the free hours didn’t kick in for so long.

@bobbletrouble yes every time I speak to ppl in regards to childcare etc they band on about free hours,20% discounts, childcare vouchers etc etc. and then every time I look into things it’s a “no sorry not for you!” 😩 I’m still a person who has outgoings etc, I’m not sitting here having a party every flippin pay day.

Let's just clarify here ... if you were entitled to 20% (vouchers don't exist anymore for new enrolments whether you are rich, poor, SAHM or working full time) because you were both working, you'd only be saving about £14 a week from your 2 half days. I doubt that's going to touch the sides is it?

You have to be having a laugh.

The unfortunate thing is under the old scheme of childcare vouchers, the OP’s partner could’ve had vouchers even if only one of you was working. Which would’ve probably paid for a couple of mornings a week

Now it’s only tax free childcare if you both work. That said you still have to pay for the nursery, it just gets topped up. Same way childcare vouchers aren’t “free” it’s just a salary sacrifice before tax

Nothing is “free” until the 15 hours at age 3. Which everyone gets, 30 hrs if you both work

So you WILL get something, just not until age 3

It IS for you once you start working 16 hours or more per week. Provided you are doing that, you can definitely access the tax-free childcare (a couple of people posted websites with info about it above), unless one of your incomes is over £100k. HTH.

You're welcome to down time. Just not that it should be paid for by the rest of us.

OP do you realise how lucky you are to afford to be a SAHM. For most families, both parents returning to work is not a choice.

My husband and I work full time and get no help with childcare until dc is 3. You have the luxury of not working.

Childcare vouchers closed in October you'd need to sign up to tax free childcare - basically every £1 you pay in the government pay in an additional 20p for you.

Hang on you can afford private healthcare and afford not to work but can't afford a day a week at nursery.
Do not slate the nhs! The best healthcare system in the world!

@sighrollseyes tax free childcare only if both working 16 hrs or more

In the nicest possible way OP - help is there to get people back to work. Not pay for some “me time”

Your DH should have joined the childcare vouchers scheme before it closed to new joiners in October last year. Probably not helpful now though, I realise...

Bear in mind, if you don't get child benefit, you still need to claim it (think you can claim without getting the money), as then your NI contributions continue towards pension etc whilst you're a SAHM

Bear in mind, if you don't get child benefit, you still need to claim it (think you can claim without getting the money), as then your NI contributions continue towards pension etc whilst you're a SAHM

Important point here - there you go OP, that's what you're getting back - your NI contributions towards your state pension.

If you can afford private health care, you should be able to find the money for a day a week at nursery for you to have your downtime. We all need downtime, but many of us don't get it because we work full time/can't afford childcare.

So coming on here, slating the NHS and feeling hard done by as you don't get benefits on top of your husband's £60k+ salary, is not going to earn you any sympathy.

The point about continuing to pay your NI is really important OP, hopefully you'll pick up on this point.

I have to admit, I was surprised after my first that there was no support until age 3. I thought I'd done my research but missed that totally, as everyone did bleat on about vouchers and free hours.