Hi all,
As you probably know, we’ve been banging on about childcare for quite some time. It’s a huge talking point for parents, and we know from millions of conversations on Mumsnet just what a difference the right support can make. That’s why the government’s expanding childcare offer - with up to 30 funded hours available to working parents of children from 9 months old up to school age from September - is such big news.
So many of you tell us that support with childcare makes a real difference financially - helping you to manage the juggle of work and parenting. But it's not just about family finances. Early education helps kids develop the skills they’ll need as they start school, giving them the opportunity to make new friends, interact with other children and build confidence in a safe and caring environment.
We know that it’s sometimes a bit tricky to work out exactly what you’re eligible for and how to access it. But with such a range of support available - from funded hours to breakfast clubs to wraparound childcare - we don’t want anyone to miss out. So we’re working with the Department for Education to provide you with clear, practical information that will help you understand exactly what support you’re entitled to - and how to get it.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing loads of explanatory content as well as frequent reminders of the application deadline to get your code to start using your hours from September. You’ll also have the chance to put your questions to childcare experts in a Mumsnet Q+A.
We’ll be using this thread to signpost to everything as it happens - so watch this space. And if there’s something particular you’d like to see then please do share below.