30 hours free 'childcare'

[BooseysMom]

Hi, does anyone know whether you have to apply for 30 hours free childcare if you already get 15 hours? It looks like the eligibility criteria has changed as when i checked a few weeks back it said both parents have to be working at least 16 hours each (as with the 15 hours free).. But now on the Childcare Service website it says that you have to be earning on average at least £120 p/w. It doesn't mention anything about 16 hours now ..unless i'm missing something which might well be the case as i'm so bloody tired!! I have asked my employer for 2 1/2 extra hours p/w to make up to the 16 hours so now according to the new rules i won't need these hours.
Any advice gratefully received.
Thank you x

But what if you're a carer?

The FAQ here says

"However, parents will be eligible where one parent is in receipt of benefits relating to caring responsibilities or has a disability and the other parent is working. Single parents who are disabled or have substantial caring responsibilities will not be eligible"

Thanks, oddboots. I'll check that because I have a disabled child who is currently not at school as well as a 3 yo DD and I can't currently go back to work as I am home educating him while we are waiting for a suitable school place to become available as he couldn't cope in mainstream. Yet when I did the quick questionnaire to check eligibility on the government website, it said I wasn't eligible for the 30 hours for DD. Seems really unfair as she spends a lot of time on iPad etc while I am with DS.

Patronising comment from a PP about 15 hours being enough for socialising. Lots of SAHPs do voluntary work, care for elderly relatives, partners, or other children. For the record I don't socialise at all during the 15 hours DD goes to nursery ( nearly all my friends work anyway), but I don't see why a child whose parents can't or don't work should get a lesser early years education than other children, many of whom will be from wealthy backgrounds.

Patronising comment from a PP about 15 hours being enough for socialising.

For socialising the child, I thought it meant, not for the parent's social life. As in, a good amount of EYFS to give the desired advantages.

It sounds like you ought to be able to get it then Mycarsmellsoflavender The government's own page says something similar too link

Thanks again, oldboots. DD 's nursery directed me to the government quick questionnaire site to check eligibility
www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Which is quite misleading as it didn't ask whether or not anyone in the home was a carer, just said that if you're not working then you're not eligible. You have to click on 'show me anyway' after it's told you you're not eligible, and then 'am I eligible?' to get to the bit of information saying that carers are eligible if the other parent works. Of course it also all depends on whether or not you fit their definition of a carer...

Mrs Hathaway it was all the exclamation marks after the word socialising that makes me read it as being about the mums socialising while their kids are being looked after.

That makes sense. I must have been in a very charitable mood earlier