30 hours free child care in England

[olivesandpecans]

I’m struggling with the HMRC information on 30 free hours childcare. My dd is due to be eligible after Christmas but I will still be on maternity then and not earning quite the amount mentioned on the website for 1 month. I will try to ring them but does anyone have any experience? Will I have to go back to work early to remain eligible?

Thanks for any insight?

They may take maternity into account but this is why I ended up returning to work earlier than the 1 year mark. DC1 became eligible for 30 free hours in the April, my paid section of maternity for DC2 ended in the January before that so I couldn't claim I was earning the minimum amount on the application if I was on the unpaid section of mat leave. I took accrued holiday in the end to stretch my time off and actually return to work a month later.

Just to say though that it's not really 30 free hours, it's only for 38 weeks a year and doesn't include food etc but it's still a saving. Our fees dropped to £350 a month for a 3 day week at nursery, still a lot....but less than it was.

It’s fine to be on maternity leave; there is a box you tick when you apply if that is the case.

My DS was having his 30 hours while I was on mat leave with his sister no problem

Here you go- says on here you can claim if you are on maternity leave.

Do bear in mind it’s not really free hours, it’s funded hours. The funding the childcare provider gets per hour rarely actually covers the hours cost, just worth checking if your setting will require top ups for your budgeting

Thanks all. I know my setting will charge top ups (she’s currently in full time) but I was planning on three weeks unpaid (I’m a teacher and can’t accrue holiday) so was hoping to go back feb half term. It would take me under the earning criteria so will contact and check as it’s not very clear. Thanks for your help

@olivesandpecans are you sure 3 days teaching puts you under the earning criteria? It really shouldn’t as I only work 2 days (am also a teacher) and earn enough to qualify still.

@olivesandpecans the threshold is £1831.76 over the next 3 months. If you fall short because of maternity leave then that’s fine, as long as when you do return to work you make the right amount you are still entitled.

It asks if you make the required amount and you will tick no, then the next question is to do with being on maternity leave from what I remember.

My DS became entitled whilst I was on mat leave with my DD. Just fill in the form correctly ticking the right boxes about mat leave and you will be fine.