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.

Struggling to believe you're asking this in good faith.

@TenOhSeven as you can see, you’re entirely wrong.

Thanks for your pointless contribution, though!

@Pippa12 thank you!

But that’s not the question she asked is it? It’s like asking the where the train station is at 7am and having someone quiz you on why you’re getting the train so early. You don’t need to know everyone’s family situation simply so you can decide whether on not you think they are making a correct life choice.

You don't owe anyone an explanation, and to most of us, it's pretty obvious.

They have to give 12 by law (although only 9 paid).

Your point being?

Yes, but sadly the law doesn't mandate decent pay after 6 weeks.

Why aren't we as a society allowed to question why such young babies are being put in childcare? I don't think it is ok to normalise such little babies being in childcare in all honesty. It can't be what is best for the baby so why are we not allowed to talk about it?

Your point? My DD went to nursey full time at six months old as I was the main earner at the time and I had to go back to work. She’s a confident sassy nearly 4 year old who shock horror loves nursey!

I wouldn't rely on getting any funded hours the January after she is 2 - at the moment there aren't firm plans, the funding isn't enough to provide the hours totally free and there isn't the childcare capacity at the moment for everyone eligible to actually get a place.

Assume you will get some money off after she is 3 and base your finances on that.

I'm sorry to be negative, but there have been a number of news articles questioning whether the Government's promise to introduce free nursery hours for under-3s can actually be delivered. So you might find that while you are theoretically eligible, there are no available places near you.

Nurseries say that the rate they are paid by Government does not cover their costs. Sometimes they cross-subsidise the existing scheme for over-3s by charging more for under-3s, which may be one reason your current costs are so high. If younger children also become eligible for free hours, the nurseries can't firstly can't make up the shortfall in that way anymore, and secondly will have to carry even more underfunded places.

Some providers say they may close, some say they might not participate in the new scheme as it doesn't pay enough, and some say they may participate but only offer a number of free places and then everyone else will have to pay.

I’d recommend you creating your own thread about that then, not taking over OPs as it’s not helpful at all for her.

@DinoDaddy it should be discussed but maybe on a different thread?

I think there’s also lots of factors that go into what’s best for a child. Sometimes a stable home for the long run and a confident, happy mother trumps an extra few months at home with a parent as a baby.

Instead of questioning the mother why don’t you question the government and employers. After all if there was decent maternity pay for 9months/a year then young babies may not need to be in childcare.

@Saracen thanks this is really really helpful! What is the best case scenario then? That she would have 15 hours by next September?

Oh fuck off honestly.

And yet, here you are - talking about it.

How about you start another thread on that. You could include:

• lobbying parliament to improve the low rate of maternity pay
• the proportion of women who have no right to the legal unpaid maternity period due to the size of the company or their contracts
• the fact that pregnancy and maternity leave are still the commonest reasons for women losing their jobs
• the fact that even if a woman goes straight back to work she carries a lifetime maternity penalty on progress and earnings
• the fact that so few fathers take the legal unpaid leave

All that is before you look at the current CoL crisis.

I look forward to your own thread rather than hijacking a thread on a different subject.

@MakeMeShine im sure the poor kid will appreciate being fed and not homeless….

some of us have to go back to work at 6 months to keep the roof over our head

This isnt the OPs question.
If you want to change the course of the thread, start your own its really easy.

On there we can discuss the multitude of reasons why this isnt possible for everyone, including the self employed, small businesses etc

All children get 15 free hours the term after they turn 3. For your DD this would be 1st January after she turns 3. If you are working more than 16 hours and are a single parent or you and your partner work 30 hours each (or similar might not be exactly correct hours wise) she will be eligible for 30 hours from this time.
if you are a low income family (think eligible for free school meals) or some other eligibility markers she may be eligible for 15 hours from 1st jan after she turns 2. You can check your eligibility for this online

This is so narrow-minded I literally chuckled out loud.

Maybe OP doesn't have any family locally to look after her child. (Lots of us don't!) Maybe OP needs to return to work for financial reasons. Maybe OP WANTS to return to work for their own sense of self. Maybe she wants her child to attend a nursery for socialisation/ other reasons.

But yes, she should just not work for a couple more years. Simple(!) 🙄

Please don't rely on any funding other than what is in place which is 15 hours from the term after they turn 3. The government have not put any plans into place to support all this extra funding and all that is clear is that child care providers will not be getting paid as much as they should which may mean Nurseries limit the number of funded hours you can use and how you can use them.

If you look at the 3 years funding posts on here you will see a lot of nurseries charge a lot in top up fees for people using funded places so it doesn't always save you much money

Honestly @MakeMeShine, parenting is hard enough without judgemental and idiotic comments such as yours all seem to be. I've no doubt you are the definition of perfection as a parent and a person to make such statements.

I work in mental health and 100% back you OP that having a happy and fulfilled mum is more important and beneficial to a young child than one who is proximally-close but emotionally distant /low. You do what works for you. X