15 hours appeal / complaint- 5 month gap

[maw86]

Re: the new government scheme for 15 hours for 2 year olds - We are eligible for this from April and the new tax year. Ordinarily I earn above the threshold (other half doesn't) but am on maternity leave, tipping us into eligibility. When I called them they said this means I can apply for a code in April (new tax year) but won't get the code until September because of how term time runs. I see this as a 5/6 month gap where we're entitled to a benefit that we're not receiving, which is basically my entire mat leave and seems bonkers. Does anyone else have experience like this? Has anyone had any joy through avenues to appeal a decision or complain about the scheme? I feel it overlooks these circumstances - a woman earning more / change in earnings for maternity leave- which must happen all the time?! Our nursery has increased fees to meet the shortfall so the amount we would pay with a code works out the same as what we thought full fees would be. Many thanks.

The same rules apply to everyone. The cut off dates are fixed and firm, you can't move them. Funding is paid on a termly basis and the deadline for codes is 31st March for the summer term. If you aren't eligible by that date then you have to wait for the following term like everyone else. You haven't been treated differently.

The summer term is no longer than any other term (12 weeks approx funded) in fact autumn term is usually the longest (14 weeks approx funded).

As above it's just how it works.

It's very annoying. We qualified from beginning of September but had to pay for the whole term and finally got it from January.

The funded hours are only during term time and start the beginning of the term after your child hits eligibility age, it's always been this way and is the same for everyone.

You aren't missing 5/6 month funding either because of the fact it's only paid for term time, so at most you are missing out on the term days between April and July (minus the 2 weeks Easter holiday).

Will you not benefit from the run on of funding once you return to your job?

I thought you must both be earning enough to benefit from the funded hours, as in you both must earn £2167 each over the next 3 months. Does your partner not earn this?

Actually, ignore that last comment, just read your post properly 🤦‍♀️

You have to apply for the code before 31st March so if you aren’t eligible due to income at that point then you aren’t eligible for free childcare that term. So you aren’t missing out on anything you’re entitled to.

I'm sorry if this sounds dumb- so you won't be eligible once you come off maternity leave leave, but wanted to use the hours for half of your mat leave?

Whether it makes sense or not, this funding is organised termly. To be eligible from 1st April you have to be eligible on 31st March and have applied by that date. The other cut off dates are 31st Aug and 31st Dec. It's run by the government and administered by local authorities. Nurseries and parents have to just follow the rules. The schemes are run on a shoestring, so to keep costs down, funding is processed for providers only 3 times a year. It's just how it is.

Thanks everyone - that is very helpful if still really annoying! Given that they're 2 and aren't in school term dates I don't really get why that's the way it is. Nursery has (understandably) hoiked up fees so a lot of the benefit of the new scheme is wiped out.

The 15 hours us only offered during term time and a large proportion of early years settings are open term time only. The funding is claimed for as a whole term at a time to reduce the work load of settings and local authorities. It would be a huge task to have an ongoing and open claim period and would increase costs to the whole system.

The reason it's in term dates is because it is administered through the same systems which do the universal 15 hrs for 3 and 4 year old. This was originally nothing to do with childcare. It's about early education and giving all children a good start. The 30hrs for working parents piggybacked on top and muddled the purpose. Expanding the scheme further is why we have got to this point and it makes little sense to the parents of 2yo who have no idea about terms. There are still plenty of term time only preschool settings though so it's not entirely crazy.

It's always been a bit unfair in the sense that if your child is born one day after the Easter cut off you have to wait months whilst a child both on 31 Aug would be eligible from 3 years 1 day on 1 Sept. It's now just the same for younger children. At least you will get it - remember lots of us have just missed out on this and paid childcare for 2 or more children up to age 3+.

I see - our nursery is spreading it across the year and is mostly open apart from Christmas/Bank Holidays, which I thought was the norm! And yes, lucky we qualify for anything at all over those of you who haven't had any funding throughout.

But your entitlement is still the same, 38 weeks of 15 hours =570 hours. So you'll get a bit less each week across the whole year. That's kind of them and again involves more work.

Yes, I'd imagine most working people go for the strethed offer but your overall entitlement is the same, as the above pp says.

TTO is a handy way of the government making people think it’s worth more than it is.

If you can go part time to reduce your net adjusted income to under £100k you’d need fewer nursery days and you would qualify for funded hours and TFC.