On ML until June but can’t access funded hours until Sept!

[user13842]

I just went online to apply for funded childcare hours for my DD when she turns 1 and I go back to work in June to find that because I go back between 1st May and 30th Sept I can’t access any funding until September term even if I apply now! Given I’m off work due to my legally entitled 1 year maternity leave (and going back to the same job) I am very surprised at this..

Obviously nothing anyone on mumsnet can do about it so just a moan really (and a heads up to anyone in the same position and doesn’t realise!!). It’s going to be a more expensive summer than anticipated.

Yes that’s the way it is unfortunately, you’d have to go back before May in order to get funding before September

Could you technically ‘go back’ before May, and then take any accrued annual leave- assuming you haven’t already taken this into account to get you to may?

I hate the way the funding system works. There surely has to be a better way... I've missed out on funding for almost entire terms due to the way my children's birth dates fall and it seems incredibly unfair, but "that's just the way it is" 🤦‍♀️

I know why they do it, but I don't think they should!

As others have said, if it's workable, I'd look at going back "early" and covering the gap with the annual leave that you will have accrued over the duration of your maternity leave (you'll have almost a whole year accrued to use, so approx. a month). Pros are that you'll be paid for the annual leave... cons are that you won't be able to use the annual leave another time (potentially useful in case of covering child's illness/flexibility/and of course, actual holidays!) and you'll lose out on the additional maternity leave itself, so the question is whether having the time with your baby or the money matters more... I'm sorry that you're in this position, it feels really unfair!

Have you tried to apply? As it should be based on your working wage. Apply now for after Easter for the 9 month + funding. It is confusing online though as it depends on when you're actually returning.

@DillyDallyingAllDay @Poppins2016 thanks both, it is very frustrating! I am not actually back in work until end of July as I am taking my annual leave straight away. I’m technically ‘back’ in June though. The nursery we want doesn’t have the spaces we need until then so it worked out quite well (or so we thought!) that that’s when my accrued AL and bank holidays ended. So it is ‘just’ a month we’ll have to pay full hours but it’s a very significant difference when she’s in full time. I might see if they have any spaces at all for July/August and work will let me stagger my return using AL so I don’t go back full time until August..

Edit to add that the latter wouldn’t reduce overall cost just spread it out a bit. We can afford it (just) but just wasn’t expecting it. A reminder to always read the fine print.

Yes, that’s how I found out! I am officially ‘back’ in June so won’t be eligible until September. Just find it ridiculous given I am off for a legally entitled reason directly linked to why I will need childcare? I am lucky I suppose that’s it’s only a month but some people will be impacted for 3 months.

I had similar, except as a teacher all my holidays were during my mat leave, there's no carrying holiday forward. So my daughter born 2 weeks before summer holidays but the 6 weeks holidays all came out my mat leave allowance. Very unfair. In Scotland you can carry it forward though