Options with free childcare

[houserenohelp]

Morning

me and Dh both work FT and I’ll be going on maternity in May due June. Deciding what to do after. With the funded hours is it correct could work 20hrs a week and it all be funded becuse it’s spread over 52 weeks and not 38?
and if I didn’t go back to my current job but say got a job at Tesco for example 20 hrs would the free hours still apply? Is there a minimum hours I have to work to be eligible.
thanks just thinking of my options and how others have worked it out

Yes but each setting will offer it slightly differently so thats something you need to ask them when viewing.

The minimum income required is £196/ week per parent which is the equivalent of 16 hours at minimum wage.

With regards to the hours being stretched that depends on the childcare provider as there are no hard and fast rules on how to apply the hours.

https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working is a good starting point for info

To directly answer your questions, theoretically yes you can do what you’ve suggested but think about the bigger picture too e.g. the hit you’ll take on your pension, money for future maternity leaves and potential for getting back into FT work later if you want to

As others have said it depends on the setting. Don't forgot, lots charge of consumables too so you may still end up with a charge.

To add to what others have said, most have fixed hours eg open 8-6 or 9-3. It’s rare that you can choose your hours exactly to match shifts