Confused about free childcare and school/nursery starts

[TambourineJean]

So my DS was born on the 1st of September 2022. I’ve tried to look this up myself but I’m finding the wording on the government website really confusing and wondered if someone could break it down for me. Really sorry if this is a silly question.

I’m planning to take some time off work until he is eligible for free childcare. I understand when he is 3 we will be eligible for 15 hours free childcare if I work, but when is he able to go to preschool/nursery that is not reliant on me working? And is that full school hours or is it 15 or 30 hours?

Everyone gets 15 hours funding the term after the child is 3. You need to work 16+ hours (and partner the same unless single parent) to get the 30 hours funding.

Also I should have added that it may not be "free" as a lot of settings have to charge for consumables and lunchtimes etc..... as the government funding does not cover the "free" hours. Just so you don't get a shock!

15 hours the term after he turns 1. So annoyingly for you that’s January. (My DS is 1 April so for us that September!)

15 hours a week but depends on the nursery I think - for our nursery that was 3 hours a day. DS only went 2 days a week, so we only got 6 free hours a week (3 per day) and paid for the afternoons essentially.

I’ve always been a SAHM so don’t think it’s to do with you working!

Not the term agter he turns 1 obviously 🙄 after he turns 3.

That’s for everyone. Some people get 30 hours at 3 or 30 hours at 2 (some 15 hours at 2 maybe?)

Its 30hrs if you work 16hrs or more, 15hrs if you work less than 16hrs. Term time only, which can be stretched over the year working out as 22/11hrs. But its rarely free as the Government doesn't cover the full cost (school nursery classes usually manage it).

You can use the funding at any setting that is Ofsted registered and accepts it ..school nursery (term time only) childminder, private nursery or preschool (often school hours) it starts the term after your child turns 3 so January as must be 3 before September 1st.
You can look for a setting that spreads funding through the year....stretched funding around 11 or 22 hours a week or term time 15/30 hours. You can use a mix of care...school and childminder, 2 nurseries, etc. Funding can not be more than a certain number of hours a day so if you need longer than 8 hours ( in my LA) you have to pay the extra hours. Settings may ask for a voluntary sustainability payment as funding pays less than the economic rate.

From next April government funding is being offered to 2 year olds as well.

All children get 15 hours the term after they turn 3. If parents both work over 16 hours or a single parent working over 16 hours and income combined is less than £200k you can get 30 hours.
Supposedly 2 year old funding will be available to all next year....if there are enough spaces but at the moment that's not a certainty as so many are closing their doors as they are loosing money.

He will get 15 hours the term after he turns 3 regardless of if you are working. If you and your partner (if you have one) both work, he will get another 15, bringing the total up to 30.

If my maths is right he'll turn 3 in 2025, but as he's just in the autum term, won't get the funding until January 2026. He'll then receive it for 5 terms until he starts school in September 2027.

At my local school, the nursery class prioritises kids in the last year before school, who start in September. If there's space they will admit some just turned 3yos in the January, who then stay in nursery class for a year and a half. If you don't get a place, private nursery's and childminders also accept the funding, though how they work it out varies greatly, and you often have to pay extra.

If you are on a low income you can get 15 hours from age two, which isn't dependent on you working. And if you are on universal credit, you can get an increase to your payment to cover some of the cost of childcare, which might make it financially viable sooner, or even if you wait, help with any top up charges.