30 hours funded childcare / help

[Moll172]

So, after three years of living off my partners income and being a SAHM, I’ve clung on for this year when my daughter was finally 3 and entitled to the 30 free hours childcare.
I applied her at the local pre school in October and they told me they’d contact me in spring 2021.
Knowing she will be “starting” pre school I have been looking for work and actually have an interview for a teaching assistant apprenticeship on Thursday.
In prep for the interview I rang the pre school to get clarification on when she would be able to start, they dropped the bomb that actually in spring I will find out weather she has a confirmed place or not, she won’t actually be able to start until September when they take on new children. News to me!
I did say to her “she will be two months off turning 4 by then?” She said yes that’s the case for lots of children I’m afraid.

Surely this can’t be right? This can they offer 30 “free hours” to 3 year old children but then not allow them to use them till they’re nearer to 4!?

I appreciate these hours apply to private nurseries too but one issue is that the local private nursery has no spaces, and on top of that the cost of a private nursery, even with the 30 free hours, would cost more than I’d earn so completely impractical.

I hope someone has some good news for me because my eyes are sore at this point!!

You need to put your name down well in advance for most preschools and nurseries so this isn't surprising. Your options are really just to wait or go for a different setting. The free hours kick in from the term after their third birthday but obviously that's dependent on having a place. The hours can also be used for childminders etc though appreciate that's probably not what you're looking for.

Don't think you will get the 30 hours until you're working. It would be 15 hours until then.

Good luck

The 30 hours starts the term after they turn 3. When did your little one turn 3.? Sadly it is usually the case if they don’t start in the September the spaces are then all gone until the following September When children leave for school. Will you be earning on your course? As to get the 30 hours you and your other other both have to be working and earning the ta the very minimum the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National/ living wage . All children will still get there basic 15 hours no matter what the parents earn/ work.

Also just to give you heads up there maybe extra charges from the pre school to cover snacks, consumables etc as funding only covers the childcare and nothing else

Thanks for the reply,
There isn’t another setting financially viable unfortunately.
Bizzare how it all works, Iv spent 3 years desperate for these hours so I can finally get into work only to find this out when I thought I was sooooo close . However if my partner took a small pay cut we could have been entitled to the hours from 2 years, bizzare!

@Apple40 thanks for the reply, Yes I would have been earning JUST over the amount to qualify for the 30. Unfortunately looks as though there’s not even any point in attending the interview after finding all this out. My own fault I suppose.
She turned 3 in November, I applied for her space in the October. First child so was oblivious to how this would all work. I would have had to pay a small amount for before/after school club too but would still have been financially viable as opposed to a private nursery or child minder
Annoyed with myself more than anything for not looking into all this sooner!

Please do attend the interview. You may be able to negotiate something with the school or find a different provider for the short term, but you'd be in a much stronger position going forward if you managed to get this role.

Why not use a childminder until September? They can't magic a space for your dc mid year unless someone leaves, generally they will not have spaces at preschool until September whereas childminders have more movement

I would still go for your interview your daughter could always start on the 15 hours and move up to the 30. Also childminders are a lot cheaper than nursery’s and with only doing the 30 hours you would only pay for any extra hours needed on top of the 30. Some do charge a small amount to cover trips, consumables etc You would be able to get help from child tax to cover childcare fees . You pay 80% the government pay the remaining 20%. Also universal credits also help with childcare costs if eligible

Your DD was actually entitled to 15 hours from January so it's a shame you haven't organised some way of using those hours between January and July. You've chosen a childcare setting that only takes children each September, so you have no choice other than using alternative childcare until then. There will be childminders and nurseries that accept the 15/30 hours funding. Also, you should factor in tax-free childcare, which you should be entitled to when you start paid work, and will give you 20% off the remaining costs.

Childminders take the funding too most of my mindees dont go to nursery and start school in reception. If shes 3 before the 1st of April she can get funding.

Thats not universal. The hpurs kick in the term after your child turn 3.

I'm moving my daughter to a nursery closer to home in april, when her 30hours start.

Maybe try a nursery instesd of stand alone pre school?

Yeah, you need to book places in well in advance. DD started nursery at 10m, i booked her in the week after my positive test and they didn't have any places available til she would be 2! Luckily Covid meant one came up early. You have to be well, well ahead of the game with nurseries.