15 hours childcare if only 1 parent working?

[dontgetscarednow]

I've recently given up my job, but we are still paying for my child's nursery place.
Does anyone know if the free 15 hours from April are applicable if only one parent is working? DH earns £60k. I don't know if I want to give up her nursery place as I am looking at going back to work, I wasn't enjoying the job itself which is the reason I left not so much not wanting a job at all. Unsure what to do

How old is she? My understanding is in England, all children get 15 hours funded term time childcare from the term after they turn 3 until they go into Reception class.

Under 3, its only if both parents are working (30 hours funded)

You will get a bit of a grace period to find work as it's the previous three months earnings that count if I remember correctly

How old is the child?

If it’s the one from April for 2+ then both parents have to be working I believe

https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/free-childcare-offers-what-parents-and-carers-need-know

I found this website helpful as I'm looking at quitting work soon

Everyone gets the 15 hours the term after DC turns 3

How old is your child?

both parents need to be in work For you to be able to claim the 2 year funding thats coming in.

Thanks everyone, she is 2 - she isn't 3 until mid September. It's good to know there might be a grace period. I'm in 2 minds what to do as if we don't get it £55 is a lot to pay per day for the sake of it when I'm at home anyway, I'm not desperate for time to myself or anything. I might just take her out then try to get her into the nursery connected to the school in my village from September. I like the nursery she's at but it's a good 30 mins away and I'd only put her in there as it was close to where I was working.

@mynumerouno that's been useful, thank you. Looks like I wouldn't be eligible if not working so I think I'll take her out for now. I might just look for evening or weekend work.. also how wrong is this

&bull;	earn less than &pound;100,000 per year. Again this applies to each parent and carer in a dual-parent household. This means that if one parent earned &pound;101,000 and the other earned &pound;20,000, a family would <strong>not</strong> be eligible, but if both parents earned &pound;99,000, the family would be eligible.

So a household could be getting a combined income of £199,000 and be eligible and another could get £100,000 and be not. Not that we're close to that but still, how daft

The figures do sound a bit silly when you put it like that, I suppose though the main point of the gov expanding the free childcare is to encourage people back into work or make it easier for them to go back to work, so 2 parents earning need the space whereas 1 parent working with 1 parent at home does not

It is ridiculous when you put it like that! But I think the thinking is more- 15 hours at 3 is preschool education and prep for school so they want everyone to be doing that whilst anything for 2s and under is intended as childcare to help working families.

School nursery in Sept sounds like a good shout but if you do plan on going back to work then make sure you have a plan for how you can manage wrap around, because it’ll be 9-3ish type hours, and school holidays because a lot of camps are for 4+ or sometimes even 5+. If that’s going to be an issue for you then you might be better keeping her current space at the day nursery but seeing if you can reduce her hours.

Yes, it is so ridiculous. Mine and DH’s combined earnings are less than £100k but he’s close enough that if he gets a big bonus next year it would make us ineligible 🙄.

Well at least he’ll have that big bonus to pay for the extra hours….

I was in a similar situation so we cut down hours but kept DC in nursery for 3 sessions a week (although was a big sacrifice financially) despite planning to stay at home but then shortly after great job opportunity came up and was very glad I had as was able to just increase hours (their last remaining place), still in same job several years later

Yeah, childcare is exactly what we want to spend it all on…

P.s. plus aside from having to resettle in nursery if you did get another job, I would be very reluctant to give up a good nursery place as waiting lists now 18 months + in our area (we’re not even in the south east) I think it is this new funding which is creating a surge in demand

Fyi if her birthday is sept she wont get her 15 hrs until jan

With the funding coming in there will be a shortage of funded places childminders or nurseries . So be careful at giving your nursery place up incase you can’t get a place when working

If this happens tell him to boost his pension

I hope I am ok to jump on to this post.
My son is 2.5 and we have the 15 hours childcare for working parents. Unfortunately I had to leave my job last year and I have been trying to pick up temporary work that fits in around childcare. I know £9518 is what needed for those who do not have regular income. Anyway, I am slightly panicking as I have earned so far about £6600. I am in the process of interviewing for permanent work. Who knows if I can achieve that £9518 in time for April, but I am trying. If I do earn the £9518 I am presuming the 15 hours would be taken away and would we have to owe any money back because I haven't earned what is required? I have tried looking online on HMRC but struggling to find info on this. Does anyone know? Thanks