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.

All of this. Plus, throw an upcoming GE into the mix, I wouldn't bank on any changes to the current system until they start to take effect - whatever Labour of the Tories may say in their manifestos.

I have a DD who will turn 2 next February. She is starting nursery shortly, and her nursery confirmed that they will be offering the 15 funded hours from next April. So there certainly appear to be childcare settings that are gearing up to offer the funded hours.

Even with the funded hours, nurseries don't have to let you have all the hours. Most around my way say you can claim 3 or 4 hours per 5 hour session and have to bring in nappies etc. Could you consider a childminder as they are often cheaper? Is there any flexibility in you or your partner's work schedule to be able to compress any hours or do a weekend day instead?

Plenty of people can't take a year off, so don't worry about that. I decided that being able to eat and not being made homeless were a priority, so was back at work at 8 months.

This is nothing to do with what OP asked.
Please start your own thread debating this and not hijack his one x

A lot of the many thousands of mothers who don't have a choice in going back to work as late as you, can't be bothered to entertain your diversion and are actually interested in the genuine helpful responses to OPs question without your hijacking cluttering the thread and our inboxes up.

Goodbye hopefully

The answer is crap maternity pay and the cost of living being so high that both parents need to work full time to keep a roof over their heads.

Poor OP is asking for advise and getting all this awful goady comments.

👏

The free hours aren't actually free as it doesn't cover the full running costs meaning you still pay a surplus amount. I expect that surplus amount will increase when they roll free hours to all kids. Have you got tax free childcare account and have you checked your entitlement with uc?

@MakeMeShine out of interest, what age to go to nursery is acceptable in your eyes?

Hi OP

I'm going to take the potential of extra hours coming in from September next year out if this as it's currently not in place and no guarantee it will be.

I have a 3 and 1 year old so here is what we get:

3 year old - 30 hours funding from term after she was 3. We need funding all year not just term time so it's actually 21.5 hours per week. All nurseries do this differently, some give you 30 hours in term time and then you need to pay full for anything additional or some spread across the year like ours does.

1 year old - no funding, just tax free child care

I've seen you mention 15 hours from 2. This is means tested and income based, so they are only eligible if household income is under a set amount. I'm not sure what that is best our joint income is £65k and we are not eligible. You'll be able to check your eligibility online.

For most households with 2 working parents, funding doesn't kick in until 3. It's also worth having the conversation with your nursery, as I said they all manage the 3 year funding differently. We still need to pay for meals on top of hours etc. at least if you know how they do it you can know what to expect

I would plan for the term after they turn 3, so the january for you as the worst case. If the new funded hours actually appear it will be sooner

You can talk about anything you like, you just don’t need to do it on someone else’s thread. Op has asked for advice on a separate issue, start your own thread elsewhere and we can choose to participate or in my case, ignore your goady, ignorant musings.

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds

Here is info about eligibility for 2 year funding as it currently stands

@thepacetogo this may help you
The UK has some of the world's most expensive childcare.
The government has announced extra help for some working parents in England - but experts warn the impact remains "highly uncertain".
Who will get 30 hours free childcare and when will it start?
In the Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the current scheme offering some families 30 free hours of childcare per week would be extended to cover younger children.
The changes will be phased in for households in England where the parent or parents earn at least £152 a week but less than £100,000 a year:

• April 2024: Eligible two-year-olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week
• September 2024: Eligible children between nine months and two years will get 15 hours
• September 2025: Eligible children between nine months and three years will get 30 hours

The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce, according to the government's independent forecaster, the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR). But Paul Johnson, from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), said he doubted the changes would make "a big difference" and they may help only "a few tens of thousands" of parents return to work. What other childcare help was announced?

• the hourly rate paid to childcare providers for free care will increase
• the 700,000 families on universal credit will get childcare support upfront, instead of having to reclaim it
• people on universal credit will be able to claim £951 each month for childcare for one child and £1,630 for two - up from £646
• a £600 incentive for people signing up to become childminders (or £1,200 through an agency)

Each staff member in England will also be allowed to look after five two-year-olds - up from four now - if providers wish to do so. When this was first proposed, the government said it could save parents up to 15% - about £40 a week for a family paying £265 for 50 hours of nursery care. But the Early Years Alliance - which represents about 14,000 childcare providers - said the "shameful decision" risked compromising safety, quality of care and staff well-being. Mr Hunt also said the government would ensure all schools in England offer wraparound care between 08:00 and 18:00 by September 2026.

• Will free childcare plan really work?
• What the Budget means for you and your money

Who can get free hours childcare now and how does it work? At the moment all three and four-year-olds are entitled to some free childcare throughout the UK. Different schemes operate in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It must be delivered by officially-registered providers. In England, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week in term time, or 38 weeks a year. Free hours can be used in some private nurseries or state-run pre-schools. Children of eligible working parents are entitled to 30 free hours per week. Both parents must earn at least £152 per week on average to qualify. At the moment two-year-olds in England can also have 15 hours of free childcare under certain circumstances, for example if the family receives universal credit. The free hours are available from the start of the term after the child reaches the relevant age. Not all private nurseries offer free hours, and some charge parents for extras on top, such as nappies or snacks. What other help with childcare costs is available? Under the tax-free childcare scheme, the government pays £2 for every £8 families contribute, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for disabled children). The money can be used for approved childcare including childminders, nurseries, nannies, and after-school clubs. It can be used alongside free childcare hours if parents qualify for both. To be eligible, a parent and their partner each need to earn (on average) at least £152 a week but less than £100,000 a year. Families claiming universal credit who aren't using the tax-free childcare scheme can claim back up to 85% of childcare costs. Parents under 20 in England, who are at school or sixth form college, can also receive weekly payments under the Care to Learn scheme, worth £160 per child per week outside London, or £175 inside the capital.

• Why more parents face losing child benefit

How expensive is childcare across the UK? It depends on the age of the child, the number of hours and the type of care. The average cost of full-time nursery (50 hours a week) for a child under two in Britain is nearly £15,000 a year, according to the charity Coram. Equivalent care from a childminder is nearly £13,000.

OP, I have no confidence this government will invest in or deliver on any childcare promise. The GE next year will likely mean childcare provision will be in the parties manifestos though which is good news!

As others have said, I’d assume that nothing will change and your daughter will receive her 3 year funding in Jan 2025. Anything above that will be a bonus (and a huge surprise to those in the industry).

Go to childcare choices:

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

It's a gov website and will tell you everything you're eligible for by putting in your details.

Best case scenario 15 hrs in September 2024 and worst case January 2026

so annoying all these comments about working, not everyone wants to stay at home even if they could afford to does not damage the children