Stretched funding need help

[lorza03]

Ok so I have a 3 yr old who has just become eligible for the 30 free hours but my nursery asked if I'm doing stretched funding which would be 24 hours over 48 hours of the year. Or my 30 hours term time only. I also have a 18 month old who is starting nursery this month and i will be paying for 2 days care😀 Then I'm also due baby no 3 in April. Just can't decided what's the best option. ! Any advise will be great

Do you need care all year round or only during term time?
Does nursery provide term time only places?

Whilst your 18 month old is at nursery do you want your 3 year old to also be there, or is that 1:1 time you can have with your 3yr old?
What is max funded hours nursery lets you use in any one day? They may do sessions, so morning, lunch, afternoon, where the lunch session is always chargeable.

Well I will stil get time with the 3yr old as my son will be a nursery a few hours longer. I will be on maternity leave from march and so will be at home 🏡

So if you are not on maternity leave until March, how much childcare do you need now, how much will you need later?

You may currently be needing 50+ hours a week of childcare and from March may not need any. So 30 hours per week now may be more useful so your cost for Jan, Feb are lowest they can be. Then March onwards you may not want any childcare at all, though may want a little bit of time so might use a sessional pre-school instead or stay at the nursery if they offer sessional care.

I’m surprised they’ve left it this late to ask you to decide. Must have plenty of vacancies!