Childcare hours.. I’m stumped

[Bruaopp]

When my dd is 3 will I get 15 free hours childcare even if I am not working? I don’t understand as it gives conflicting information online!

It's funded hours not free and every nursery does it differently...you need to contact your local one to find out how much you need to pay.

@Londonrach1 thanks. Do I need to be working to have the 15 hours at age 3 though?

No the 15 hours at age 3 is universal. The 30 hours at age 3 is only for working parents.

But it’s not when she’s 3, it’s the term after she turns 3. Which can be several months depending on when her birthday is.

@BigRenoLittleBudget what is the rationale behind it, do you know? I’m obviously pleased about this but also can’t believe I can drop dd off for three days a week for free when I have nothing else to do! Is it to help children settle into education settings before school?

It’s the term after your child turns 3

Sorry this is all assuming you’re in England.

www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-3-to-4-year-olds

@BigRenoLittleBudget thanks so dd is 3 in December and she will get it from January?

You can access the funded hours the term after your child is 3. So if he is 3 this month he will be eligible for the funded hours from September. If you use a school nursery or maintained nursery that is open only in term time there will.be nothing else to pay. If you chose a private nursery that opens all year round it may he difficult different
You don't need to be working to access the 15 hours, you do if you want to access 30 hours

Each nursery is different and the hours they offer for funded places vary. Ours only offer the 15hrs over 2 days. They also charge a consumables fee so it's not "free" but definitely cheaper than paying full price.

It’s partly this yes. It can be tricky for kids to start full time school if they’ve not been in any formal childcare setting at all. Also some parents may have their young kids at home and not do anything towards their “school readiness” so giving universal childcare gives an opportunity to put those skills in place.

www.earlyyearsresources.co.uk/blog/starting-primary-school-checklist-what-are-children-expected-to-know/

It’s because statistically children with unemployed parents have worse outcomes than those of parents witch higher economic status, so they want to get children out of the home and into structured educational environments as early as possible to help level the playing field.

Yes that’s right

Will it not be 30 hours? Sure it changes in September

You would need to check with the setting whether this would be 3 full days. Settings may have different offers. There may be additional fees to pay.

The rationale is also partly socialisation. Encouraging children to develop skills they might not at home...reading, mark marking, numbers as well as social skills interaction with peers, sharing, group activities.

Also it's 11 hours if you want year round, 15 hours term time only

And we have to pay £1 an hour on top

When my children were young most children went to playgroup/preschool or maintained nursery when they were 3 it was usually for a few mornings a week . We had to pay for them to go. Research found that children who had been to preschool nursery had better outcomes when they went to school. Research also found that the optimum number of hours per week to have an impact was 15. So the government funded this early education. It wasn't about childcare but about education for the children.
As time has gone on the funded hours has become extended to include childcare so people working can access 30 hours.

30 hours is only for working parents.
15 hours for disadvantaged 2 year olds
15 hours for all 3 year olds

It’s meant to be early education rather than childcare, which is why it’s in terms and term time only. I’d probably look at a school nursery class for your needs. For 3 full days you’d probably have to pay a few hours top up, or she can do 2.5 days/some other split.

I see thanks

Another reason is that on universal credit a parent where youngest child is 3 will be expected to be looking for work around nursery hours so the free hours would give them time to duo it. (Unless for example they are a carer or assessed as too ill to work)

If the school that you plan to apply for has a pre school attached I'd recommend applying there to use the hours. They are less likely than private nurseries to charge top ups and it can really help your DC to settle there before they start reception.

As a school nursery, we offer 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. We don’t offer full days.

The original 15 hours offer is about education, not childcare.

There is a lot of research linking pre school education with higher education and better intellectual development. Also statistical information illustrating that government investment in children at a young formative age ultimately benefits the economy, its the norm in most first world countries. Don't ask for links I've no idea anymore but i studied this when doing a degree in early education. Also there is a huge benefit to primary schools to having children 'school ready' with experience in turn taking and listening, and self care skills, and this needs to be universal not just for children of working parents.