Can someone please tell me when dc will get free hours? Tearing my hair out

[Yebbey]

Dc is 2 on 22 November. I earn 58k as single parent. When does he get free hours? I can’t find anything online. Can I still use tax free childcare too? Thanks

Usually from the term after he turns two, in this case January 2025. However currently they are planning to expand the age range to from 9m from September 2024 so your entitlement should start then.
Yes, you can still use tax free childcare for the remainder.

@Whattobakeiwonder thanks for replying. So potentially I could get some hours this coming September? Do you know how many?

He will be 2 on 22nd November or he was 2 on 22 November?

@Mumofteenandtween 2 this year on 22 nov

15 hours a week term time only (38 weeks a year). Some providers will stretch it to 12 hours a week for 48 weeks a year but that's at their discretion.

@Whattobakeiwonder do you know when this decision will be made? When will I know for sure? I’m trying to organise my annual leave etc for the year around nursery

If he isn’t 2 till November 2024 then he will likely get the ‘funded’ hours January 2025

@Peeweelooloo thanks how does this fit with what @Whattobakeiwonder has said though? This is why I am confused reading online

15 hours free childcare a week in term time from the term after his 2nd birthday.
I'm sure you already know this but I know several people who got stung not realising they had to do a self assessment and pay back some of their child benefit as they earn over 50k.

From what I can see @Whattobakeiwonder and @Peeweelooloo are agreeing with each other. Term after he turns two.

@Mummyofthewildones thanks, is January a new term then? I thought the term after Xmas was spring?

@Deafening someone said it might be this September … ever hopeful

Unless the policy is reversed or delayed (for example by a general election and change of government), it’s this September for 15 free hours for 9 months old.

So the term after he turns 2, he’ll get 15 funded hours a week - it usually doesn’t actually mean free 15 hours every week, you’ll need to check the funded daily / weekly cost with your childcare provider.

This September he’s likely to get 15 funded hours a week - same caveat.

And the term after he turns 3, the 15 hours becomes 30 hours.

Have you looked at nurseries yet? Although assume your DC may already be in a nursery if you’re working? Lots have huge waiting lists due to the upcoming new funded hours. Our nursery has a waiting list over a year long, I put my baby down before he was born.

I don't work in nurseries anymore but I can't how many will survive with the changes to funding.

By the time it comes into place, there may not be many nursery spaces available.

This from the early years alliance would appear to answer the question.. as pp days though I would t 100% rely on it as there is alot of politics, financing and provider viability issues to be sorted yet.

Lots of nurseries charge top ups and wrap around fees to make up the extra money. Ours does that and we’re all happy to pay as it means they survive and we still get money off the bill. They’ll be doing the same for these extra hours, they’ve already confirmed they will be offering them to all children who qualify.

My DC is a week younger than yours, as it stands now, I'm "expecting" 15 free hours in September, although Labour apparently won't implement the announced policy.

If not, we won't get any free hours until January 2026 (first term after 3rd birthday).

This website on proposed changes is helpful.
www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/upcoming-changes-to-childcare-support/#:~:text=to%20childcare%20support-,15%20and%2030%20hours%20childcare,30%20hours%20of%20childcare%20support.

It would be from this September; but as he's not turning 2 until November, he'll miss the September term - so he'll get his funded hours from January.

There's a big caveat that not even the hours coming in April have been fully signed off with nurseries yet and nobody knows where the childcare staff or extra nursery places are coming from; but theoretically, if nothing changes (and bearing in mind the election), you'll be eligible from January.

@BlueisthenewGrey thanks, so we will only get the hours in September under Tory government?

I'll stick my neck on the line and say I don't think a general election would change this result. The first stage of this policy is already happening in April, and it would be woefully unpopular.

I might be very wrong though!

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

As a pp said, you can use TFC for any remaining fees.

@BlueisthenewGrey this contradicts what you’ve said… or am I missing something?!

There's some useful information on the MSE website www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-costs/

Actually, sorry, I'm going to do a big u-turn on my previous post. If they continue with the current rules of funding coming in "the term after the child turns 3" as it is at present, and soon to be 2, then it would be January for you either way, from a timing pov.

As long as policy stays the same as he will be over 9 months old at the start of the September term he will get 15 hours.