can anyone tell me when dc is eligible for nursery hours? Tearing my hair out!

[thepacetogo]

DD’s birthday is 8th November. She’s coming up to one this November. Nursery costs are breaking us and we use the tax free system. She’s only been in two months and I don’t know how we are going to manage. When does she get hours and how much? And is it definite or could it change? I’m reading such conflicting things online and feel totally overwhelmed.

Currently the term after she turns 3, so if she was born November 2022, it will be from Jan 2025.
It will be 15 hours a week, term time only, or 30 hours if you meet the criteria. ( both parents working at least 16 hours a week, and neither one of you earning over £100,000)

Government announced that this will eventually be phased in for children over 9 months by September 2025, but no further information about how this will work has been given yet.

If you work then at the moment it will be the January after she’s 3 when you’ll get 30 hours. It is meant to be changing from April. So 2 year olds from working families will get 15 hours free and 9-23 months will have to wait until September to get 15 hours with 30 hours not coming in for 9months - 3 year olds until September 2025

No one here knows. Are you in Northern Ireland or jersey or Shetlands or Cardiff?
What's your household income and who works what hours etc.

It's different depending on a few factors.

Oh come on. I don't even have kids and I know they get the free nursery hours when they're three.

@Skyblue92 thanks. I know I’m clearly being stupid here but if two years olds get 15 hours from next April wouldn’t we then get it next November? November 2024?

Hi, you can look at childcare choices or for a more detailed check you should contact your local council early years funding team, they can check if you might be eligible for 2 year funding.

Why is she in nursery so young?

If it’s breaking you now then you have a couple of years to go before you get help.

This is the link I found with details on. So yeah if you child turns 2 next November then you would, but you’d qualify in September as your child would fall in the 9-23 month category at that time https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/upcoming-changes-to-childcare-support/

I feel your pain. We moved our DD to a childminder as it's significantly cheaper (c. £77 a day vs. £100+ a day). I know that's not what you're asking, but might be worth looking into.

Is this what you mean? If so September 2024. At present it's 15 hours from the term after she turns two. My GC was born in December and her's started after the Easter break.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/budget-2023-free-childcare-30-hours-parents-confirmed-jeremy-hunt-b1067470.html

The funding works along school terms. So if she is 2 in November 2024, she should be eligible for 15 hours from Jan 25, the term after her 2nd birthday, then 30 from January 25, the term after she is 3.

This is for England, I'm not sure for rest of UK.

People have to work!

A lot of jobs only give none months maternity leave. Unless you have family help, then Nursery it is.

I'm going to assume it's because the OP had to go back to work? Given that they are struggling with the cost, it seems unlikely it's just for shits and giggles....

Actually, if 15 hours for children under 2 comes in for sept 2024, she should be eligible then.

Right, but this baby has been in since only six months old.

@thepacetogo your not being stupid, it’s just really confusing. It’s done on school terms, so if they turn 3 in November 2024, the next school term will be January 2025 and that when they are eligible for 30hours free nursery hours.

@TenOhSeven your correct for now but the government have said free childcare for working parents from next year. Nothing helpful to say and all that eh! When/if you choose to have children you’ll understand the stress of finding the cash for it! And if you’ve already done it, good on you!

The government still haven’t firmed up plans for lowering the age of the free nursery hours entitlement which is unfair, and probably why you’re finding such conflicting information. My honest advice would be don’t rely on it. It’s such an unrealistic move as nursery places are really difficult to come by as it is. No extra training/facilities and lots more parents entitled to funded places?

I know it’s stressful, but 3 years flies!

This is a classic of the "If you don't have anything helpful to say, don't bother" trope.

@Ponoka7 so when 90% pay stops at 8 weeks (6 months if your lucky!) do you pay the bills with beans?

Stop being judgemental and just answer the bloody question!

Sorry that was at @MakeMeShine not @Ponoka7

Op could be self employed and entitled to zero financial help. Or they could have been on SMP, which is quite frankly fuck all a month, when you have bills to pay and a roof to keep over your head.
Not everyone has family to help them with childcare.

Have you tagged me by accident? It was me defending the need to go back to work.

Maybe in a cost of living crisis the poster couldn’t afford the wage drop at 6 months, or maybe just wanted to go back to work.
Stop judging.

@Ponoka7 yes my apology is above.

@MakeMeShine don’t want to give up my career