2 year old funding

[AtLastEarwax]

Ok covid aside for a moment

I'm wondering if anyone can help me...

So I'm not working at the moment I have a 3 year old and 16mo twins.

My eldest is going to school in September and I want my twins to start Pre school when they are 2 as I qualify for the funding

BUT

How do they assess your income? My husband had to decrease his hours in august permanently so for this tax year April 2021/2022 his wages will be like £16400. Before he earned about £19600. We qualified for tax credits for both years though

Will we still be able to claim the funding and they will see his decrease in wages? He has a new contract with confirmation of hours etc Do they put last years wages into account? I know they need my NI number though

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am keep to get them into a Pre school ASAP so they can get some interaction and different experiences in life

Thanks

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the eligibility requirements for 2 year olds (although I know it's not always dependent on income but can be hours worked) but for 3 years plus they use 'adjusted net income' - definition here
www.gov.uk/guidance/adjusted-net-income

The criteria for 2yo is here (you sound like you're already familiar with this though!)
www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds

You're above threshold on that wage unless you get tax credits you may get a element. 2yo funding is unusual.

Ahhh Thankyou

I have just read this...

child tax credit and also that your household’s yearly income does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs)

That's from my council. How do they assess it does anyone know??

Even his new wages will be above that though, no?

By a little bit yeah, he just said he could forfeit his yearly bonus though which is £500 which I know sounds stupid but we are talking childcare for twins and they need it. With covid and such. It would then take us under?

Naughty I know but if it means my children get some education in this shit show we might have to get round it that way

I was over the threshold for the funding but my daughter is known to the local authority because of our previous life with her father.. She got funding on that basis. I think they actually look at each individual circumstance.

Ok thankyou

I might ring them tomorrow and just explain because the tax year April 21/22 will be that definite amount and he'll have his payslips to reflect that but obviously tax credits will be based on last years income which is more 😕

Also just to add with twins would hubby be allowed to earn more??

No. I actually don’t agree with people deliberately depriving themselves to enable more state help, it personally doesn’t sit right. I hope you get the answers you need though. The Early Years department at your Local Authority will definitely be able to help with any questions you have regarding your application.

www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds

As it stands, no you wont be eligible for the funding based on your income.
Instead of foregoing the £500 bonus, why don't you book your twins into a private nursery 2 half days a week or what ever suits, using the £500 as a starting budget? This way everything is kept legit.

I'm ringing them tomorrow so will update then just for future if anyone searches for it as well. Twins could change things though, you can earn £16k and get 15 hours free for one child because of a low income and not being able to afford childcare, how does that work when you've got to pay childcare for two children? Surely that changes the income or funding goalposts?

I've got everything contracts, payslips etc to prove and support what I'm saying so there must be something they can help with or a protocol for a situation like this

The threshold is there because children growing up in very low income families have been identified as more vulnerable. They often start school behind their peers, they aren’t able to access the experiences/resources that can bring them on and enhance their development. It’s delivered as ‘education’ not childcare. A bit like the pupil premium that is paid to schools for children on free school meals.
It is also awarded to children with disabilities, adopted children or children who have been previously ‘looked after’ by the LA. There are some other reasons too and it can also be awarded at the discretion of the LA.

Each LA has a different way of awarding it, in mine you have to have a letter from them which you give to your provider.

I’d say two year funding is quite rare, in 12 years of childminding I’ve only had 1 child be eligible.

Hope you get sorted.

Instead of foregoing the £500 bonus, why don't you book your twins into a private nursery 2 half days a week or what ever suits, using the £500 as a starting budget? Good idea.
Instead of trying to earn less to get free funding, try to earn more to pay for private nursery.

This doesn't sit well with me either. The data supports 3 year olds attending which is why that's universally available. Those 2 year olds who receive funding will often have more complex needs.

The funding isn't provided for "interaction and different life experiences".

Could you try and find some p/t work for when they could be at nursery plus the £500 to pay privately?

In the nicest possible way. It may help you to get a part time job. I work full time but I'm a single parent and I receive no financial help from DDs Father. I receive UC to help top up my wages as I don't earn masses but it was over the income threshold. The local authority awarded 2 year old funding to my DD because she was identified as vulnerable as we fled domestic abuse and she was subject to a child in need plan. As pp said.. 2 year old funding is extremely rare.. The LA assess each individual case.. But 2 year old funding is more so for children identified as vulnerable.. I don't know your individual circumstances but if you're children aren't classed as vulnerable and you can get a part time job to assist with the fees, I would do that. My daughters nursery actually said she was 1 of only 2 children in the whole nursery who receives 2 year old funding.

It may help you to get a part time job.
That's what I did when I emigrated and know nobody and my oldest was at school so made lots of friends but the youngest was very lonely so I put her in a private nursery and worked while she was there to pay for it.

Ok...

So there was talk about our financial situation in the tax year 21/22 rather than last. They asked questions about the girls and needs etc at the moment despite being 16m they are only just reaching 12m development milestones and they did pick up on that slightly. The 10 month check they had I laughed my head off at as they were no where close to any of it so she scaled it back to 6 months and they met every milestone then. Do they have a educational need though, I don't believe so I think it's just 'catching up' in a way as they were prem

The only other thing that hubby said was just to add the childcare on the tax credits award and see if it made any difference

OP.. Is there anything stopping you from getting a part time job to help with nursery fees?

It's not a day nursery. I would never put my children in one of them personally. It's a term time setting. I work from home - well I did before covid

Tbh right now thinking of them going into childcare fills me with tears as I was crying to hubby that they are still my babies but when they get older they get to a point where they NEED something else. I worked 42 hours when my son started Pre school. Working isn't an issue it's just the shitty issue that we are in right now

He started Pre school at age 2 as well and we obviously paid for it 100% ourselves

Hey OP. I feel for you. But as pp said.. The 2 year old funding is quite rare and usually reserved for children who have some kind of vulnerability within the household.

Thankyou,

Just shitty shitty shitty covid. Sick of it, we were just plodding along with life, looking forward to holidays and we had bought annual passes to the local farm/theme park attraction so we could be there all summer with the huge soft play, lovely picnic etc etc and bam everything is shat on from a great height

I know we all feel the same, I'm just venting 😭😭😭

Instead of foregoing the £500 bonus, why don't you book your twins into a private nursery 2 half days a week or what ever suits, using the £500 as a starting budget? This way everything is kept legit
That’s a bit of a ridiculous comment tbh. A £500 budget for twins would last about 8 days in my childminding setting (£4.50 per hour x 2 dc, so £9ph. A 6.5 hour day (Equivalent to a school day)would work out at just under £60 per day, so i just can’t see how it is feasible to put them in childcare on those figures.

I would definitely speak to your LA. They do have some wiggle room and like you say, as you have twins and have such a low income, they might be able to help.

All those suggesting you get a job though, I’m not sure people appreciate how exhausting it is having such young twins and a 3 year old. Completely different to having one toddler and a 3 year old. It does sound as though your dc would benefit from the 2 year funding if they are not meeting milestones as you say.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

No. I actually don’t agree with people deliberately depriving themselves to enable more state help, it personally doesn’t sit right. I hope you get the answers you need though. The Early Years department at your Local Authority will definitely be able to help with any questions you have regarding your application.

Are you totally delinquent?

The OP would have to pay probably north of £1500/m in childcare if going back full time. That’s around £18000 for a year.

Are you honestly suggesting they DONT forfeit £500 for the sake of £18k? Even if it’s part time 20 hours that £9k.