To think people have got this wrong about childcare?

[What91k]

I’ve heard so many people saying that free hours have been authorised and kick in next year. This isn’t correct? Or is it? I thought it was yet to be ‘official.’

Free hours in what context?

For under 2

My nursery sent a link to check eligibility, I checked and it's only free in receipt of certain benefits. That definitely isn't what was announced

I thought a lot of providers didn’t have the resources to offer it - but happy to be corrected

No one seems to know really.

Obviously I'd like it to kick in, in April as my DD turns 2 in December! Any saving i will willingly take

I didn’t think any partially funded (it won’t be ‘free’) hours have been suggested for under 2s, have they?

I think the main issue is the government has announced something for the over 2s that will largely be unworkable as there aren’t enough childcare providers as it is, and haven’t provided any more detail. If they don’t pay enough per hour, then put the minimum wage up, many more providers will be forced to close their doors.

It may well be like dentists-you could be entitled to free care on the nhs, but that’s no good to you if you can’t actually find a dentist prepared to take you on. You might find no childcare provide near you is willing to accept the funded hours so that you have to pay full whack.

It seems to include 9months up.

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/upcoming-changes-to-childcare-support/#:~:text=From%20September%202024%2C%2015%20hours,hours%20of%20childcare%20a%20week.

It is being rolled out in phases."From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.From September 2025, eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week."

Edit as hit post too soon! So for example, our nursery is asking parents of 2yr olds to contact them if they are interested in the funded hours from April 24 onwards. But given there will probably be an election before Sept, i think many are holding off any further until there is a bit more clarity on what will happen then?

They already exist for some 2yos, that will probably be for them

It is official in the sense that the government legislated. Whether nurseries will offer it and the intricacies have yet to be worked out. Even in the very likely change in government it is not easy to revert legislation.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1149556/Earlyyeducationanddchildcarestatutoryyguidance--April_2023.pdf

15h free for over 2s from April 2024
15 free for over 9m from September 2024
30h free for over 9m from September 2025.

For some reason people seem to think it's going to all kick in in April and that every provider will be offering them (according to Pregnant Then Screwed only 17% of providers will be extending their "free" provision). It's really not going to help for the vast majority of people struggling right now.

Essentially yes the government said it will be available.

No, nurseries or childminders do not have to offer it.

It's not free, it's funded.

The government have not told settings a single thing about how much they will offer, so settings cannot possible get this organised yet.

With the huge increase in demand, this will be a shit storm waiting to happen!

Official in what sense?

Hunt confirmed in the autumn statement yesterday that the phased roll out (starting with 15 hours for over 2s) would start as planned in April. So I would say that that part at least is pretty much confirmed as going ahead as far as the government is concerned.

I don't think there is any official information for providers yet though. And of course they don't have to offer it.

The government can decide to ‘roll out’ what they like. If childminders and nurseries can’t afford to implement it, it is worse than useless-worse because some people will be hopeful and expect things to be cheaper for them and it won’t be. It might be that their current provider becomes full of those prepared to pay full whack as they can’t work without childcare, and therefore can’t even extend any childcare to current users at all.

Why would they need to offer any partially funded places, if they can fill their places with people who will pay the full fees? There is a fast declining number of childcare providers and a captive audience of people who need childcare for work-the nurseries will be able to pick and choose.

This is now. After Jan the link will change ready for April.

Are labour keeping it when they get voted in?

@mrsed1987 I suspect they will be politically pressured to though hopefully they will find a more sustainable way of doing so, it's why the Tories have made such a grand gesture, they don't give a shit about childcare. It'll serve them some damage limitation in the general election, they can proclaim they are a party for families but they know full well they are very unlikely going to have to carry it out for themselves so are not worried about the finer detail.

@mrsed1987 as a parent requiring childcare, it doesn’t particular matter. Unless it’s funded properly and a massive recruitment drive started to try to encourage people to work in the childcare industry, it will be a non-starter.

That's exactly what I think.

I hope something does come of it, I'm due my second in April and nursery fees almost crippled me with my first (as is the case for a lot of people)

I'm gonna sound really thick here but do the nurseries not get reimbursed from the government, surely no one will do it if it costs them. Why would a business do this to themselves?

I've got a 14mo and was told that there isn't any free funding but that they would cover 85% of it. Am in receipt of UC with DH working

They don't get the full amount that it actually costs, no. That is the case with the current "free" 30 hours for 3 year olds.

At the moment I assume nurseries charge a premium on their under-3 hours to make up some of the shortfall. This obviously won't be possible if all ages get the free hours.
Some nurseries charge a top up fee (which is technically not allowed) for children on the free hours, or charge a premium for what they are allowed to charge extra for eg they can charge for food during the free hours, I imagine a lot of places charge a high price for this to claw back some of the money.

@CrispsandCheeseSandwich ah right ok thank you. I mean, I don't know why they bother doing it to be fair, if they don't have to. Sounds like a ballache

Lots round here don’t now, tbh. They don’t need to because they can fill the places without having to.

Bang on!
It's a ball ache. More paperwork, more waiting for payment, less money! And the government wonder why no one is jumping up and down excited to accept their shite money 🙄