Page 5 | To be annoyed that 30 h free childcare...

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 2023-03-15T10:19:53+00:00

...starts the whole term AFTER the child hits 3 yo. My son missed the deadline for next term by 5 days, and so we have to wait until September to be able to access the 30 free hours. Parents of a kid born 5 days before will get the 30 free hours in April, May, June, July and August, although they will go to school at the same time... Just a mnini rant, I thought it was the following month and just realised it,s the whole 5 extra months of massive payments for the nursery.

Littleelffriend · 15/03/2023 13:45

@WorkOfTheDevil this has changed in Scotland

nurseynursery · 15/03/2023 13:45

WigglyWigglyWiggly · 15/03/2023 11:56

You can still use it for wraparound and holiday care when they’re in reception.

Can you? Really? I've missed out massively if so.

WorkOfTheDevil · 15/03/2023 13:47

Littleelffriend · 15/03/2023 13:45

@WorkOfTheDevil this has changed in Scotland

I think in some councils it has changed, but mine it definitely has not.

smellyflowers · 15/03/2023 13:47

Yeah younger child gets to school quicker

adriftabroad · 15/03/2023 13:48

It is from 9 months?

smellyflowers · 15/03/2023 13:49

adriftabroad · 15/03/2023 13:48

It is from 9 months?

Thats what they said

smellyflowers · 15/03/2023 13:50

nurseynursery · 15/03/2023 13:45

Can you? Really? I've missed out massively if so.

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Yes as long as ofsted approved

WindowGazers · 15/03/2023 13:50

My son is just about to turn 4 and I would have loved to have been eligible for this for the 18+ months I had to pay full whack minus 15 hours. They have to start somewhere and I'm just glad other people won't struggle quite as much as I had to.

adriftabroad · 15/03/2023 13:50

smellyflowers · 15/03/2023 13:49

Thats what they said

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Why are people complaining?

Albiboba · 15/03/2023 13:51

adriftabroad · 15/03/2023 13:48

It is from 9 months?

I don’t think it comes into effect for that age bracket until September 2025.

In April 2024 2 year olds will receive 15 hours and the full 30 hour entitlement will not be available until 2025.

adriftabroad · 15/03/2023 13:52

Ah,I see. Thank you Ali

Original poster

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 15/03/2023 13:53

Rupiduti · 15/03/2023 13:32

I get what you mean but you could look at it this way.

Child A born end of August - say they start in childcare at 1yr then parents pay for childcare
1- 2 Yr
2 - 3 Yr
3- 4 Yr- funded hours but they have to top up
4 Yr- start school

Child B born start of September - say they start in childcare at 1 Yr then parents pay for childcare
1- 2 Yr
2 - 3 Yr
3 - 4 Yr funded hours but they have to top up
4 - 5 Yr funded hours but they have to top up

So actually you having a younger child is not worse off. You still pay for the exact same amount of childcare. And in fact, those that get 2 years of 'free childcare' are worse off. Because they actually aren't getting free childcare but 'funded' childcare. Therefore most settings ask for a top up fee!

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You're not exactly better off as to find 'childcare' for a reception child that is on the scheme is much more difficult than finding a nursery that is on the scheme.

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Original poster

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 15/03/2023 13:55

Vetrep · 15/03/2023 13:13

You are unbelievable!
When I decided to have children I knew it would come with responsibilities and sacrifice. The only help was Child Allowance.
Now you expect 'the Government' to provide everything from food to childcare to after school clubs to school uniforms.
Except it isn't really the government, it is all of us, whether we have kids or not.

Yes, I expect the same care for all kids, not kids born between X and Y.
You clearly are upset there was not 30 free hours at your time, but you also didn't have a lot of expenses parents who have kids these days didnt have.

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Original poster

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 15/03/2023 13:57

nurseynursery · 15/03/2023 13:45

Can you? Really? I've missed out massively if so.

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Maybe you have not, it's very difficult to find a nanny /babysitter who are on the scheme. Most nurseries are, but as for wrap around care, this is not the case. We messaged a gazillion of nannies for my older, only 3 or 4 were on the scheme (as they have to pay expenses, have certifications etc, and many just don't bother).

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Redsquirrel5 · 15/03/2023 13:58

They have to cut it off at some point.

Be glad you are getting help. My children went to nursery a couple of mornings a week as it was all we could afford. I looked after a holiday home for a couple and I was a stay at home mum. DP worked on a fairly low paid job working in a hotel until he went away to work for a fortnight every month. We cut our cloth according to our income. We were lucky in that we lived by the beach in Scotland. We went camping once a year for a week. I rarely had new clothes.
We paid all our nursery fees, no help whatsoever. Be glad you get help nowadays, count up how many weeks you do get help. Does it enable you to work? Then personally I think you are very lucky. Have you asked the staff that look after and educate your child how much they earn per hour it wont be much? Maybe if you do this you will feel less hard done by that your child arrived 5 days later than you would like.

Original poster

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 15/03/2023 13:59

Casdentwo · 15/03/2023 13:19

I know I will be shot down as behind the times...but we never had "free childcare " we didn't use expensive nurseries we had a local community network. The parents we met at anti natal became our friends our children benefited from each other and yes we still went to work. But we helped each other maybe some old fashioned elements weren't so bad

Ah yes, the good ol' days.
Sadly, all my anti natal friends also work full time, some travel over an hour to work. None of us have parents around to do free childcare for us and most of us live far away from 'home'. Such is life, not shooting you down but the reality of living here and now is very different from whenever ago.

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boatyroo · 15/03/2023 14:00

My council says this, which suggests it can't be used after starting reception.

To be annoyed that 30 h free childcare...

Ohhmydays · 15/03/2023 14:01

WorkOfTheDevil · 15/03/2023 13:26

Ah OK! I stay in Fife and it's the council policy here to start the term after the 3rd birthday. My daughter was 3 at very beginning of January but had to wait until April to start.

The way your area does it definitely sounds a lot better!

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@WorkOfTheDevil when my nephews started it was august, January or April depending when your birthday was it has just been the last few yrs its been like that but when my oldest was younger it was the monday after they turned 3 but was only either mornings or afternoon

WorkOfTheDevil · 15/03/2023 14:02

Ohhmydays · 15/03/2023 14:01

@WorkOfTheDevil when my nephews started it was august, January or April depending when your birthday was it has just been the last few yrs its been like that but when my oldest was younger it was the monday after they turned 3 but was only either mornings or afternoon

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I have an 18 year old and a 4 year old. Born are January birthdays and both got to start in April.

I sent my eldest to school when she was 4 after just over a year at nursery. I am sending my youngest a year later.

Original poster

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 15/03/2023 14:04

Redsquirrel5 · 15/03/2023 13:58

They have to cut it off at some point.

Be glad you are getting help. My children went to nursery a couple of mornings a week as it was all we could afford. I looked after a holiday home for a couple and I was a stay at home mum. DP worked on a fairly low paid job working in a hotel until he went away to work for a fortnight every month. We cut our cloth according to our income. We were lucky in that we lived by the beach in Scotland. We went camping once a year for a week. I rarely had new clothes.
We paid all our nursery fees, no help whatsoever. Be glad you get help nowadays, count up how many weeks you do get help. Does it enable you to work? Then personally I think you are very lucky. Have you asked the staff that look after and educate your child how much they earn per hour it wont be much? Maybe if you do this you will feel less hard done by that your child arrived 5 days later than you would like.

My gripe is not with nursery staff. It's with the admin bit of the process that has been decided on a government level, so the last bit of your pragraph makes no sense and has nothing to do with anything.

I am glad there is help, but it should be equally distributed to all kids the same age. It's not and in current times, I will be paying £2400 (if not more) more for the same childcare than if my son was a week older.

Sorry to hear you didn't get the same help, but that does not mean I have to be happy with my situation.

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randomsabreuse · 15/03/2023 14:06

Holiday childcare for a 4 year old in reception is the worst to find full stop tbh. Most of the holiday schemes start at 5 or you can have a 2 hour session a day. Unless you already have a childminder you're stuck. Even the expensive providers like King's Camp and Barracudas couldn't take until 5th Birthday.

I didn't realise that Scotland wasn't all the same. My council is from 3rd Birthday but you apply for the council nursery place in the ?March before the year they turn 3 so the allocations are planned on that basis

Original poster

Allgoodusernamesweretaken · 15/03/2023 14:08

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 15/03/2023 13:11

So I feel like I have every right to feel salty.

Maybe be thankful that you get any free childcare at all.

I'd feel even more greatful if I wasn't £2400 out of pocket as compared to if m y child came a few days earlier.

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Ohhmydays · 15/03/2023 14:08

LoopyGremlin · 15/03/2023 13:29

In Edinburgh it definitely starts the term after they turn 3.

@LoopyGremlin its defo down to your council area’s. I stayed in Livingston when my oldest was younger and it was the monday after he turned 3. Stay in a different council area now and it a month after 3rd birthday. My ds2 started in September birthday was in august

Poppy2394 · 15/03/2023 14:12

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Dibbydoos · 15/03/2023 14:14

What's annoyed me is people on uc get more child care. I appreciate kids need to be socialised but people on uc n the main do not work. It's working people who need this help more....