16 hours free?

[Piercy]

Hi

My partner is self employed and I currently am employed by him albeit I'm on maternity leave at the moment (yeah right)!
Anyway DS started nursery and DP has been told we are entitled to 16 hours free nursery care - is this right? Where do I find out more information?
Thanks
P

All children are entitled to the 15 hours early education grant from the term after their third birthday. Some children are entitled to it from age 2 but there are certain criteris which need to be met. If your family are on a lowish income you may get help with nursery fees through the tax credit system as long as you both work 16 hours or more per week. I think being on mat leave would still count as you are still employed.

You need to ask the nursery about it. All children are entitled to it from the term after they turn 3 (so my DD was born in April, wasn't entitled to it until the September after her 3rd birthday) but not all nurseries provide it (although most do). Its also down to the nursery as to how they provide the "free" hours - they can stipulate its from say 9-12 every morning so if you want your child to attend outside of those hours, regardless of whether its less than 15 hours etc, you have to pay for that time. They are also entitled to charge for anything they provide over and above the care (meals, snacks, nappies I think).

Thanks for your replies DS is only 7 months so I guess he doesn't qualify

Thanks again

P