30 hours of free childcare for families with 3 under 5yos?

[aimees75]

Hello, I have a three year old and twin babies. I've heard from a couple of people that if you have 3 children under 5 you are entitled to 30 hours of free childcare instead of the usual 15. Does anyone know if this is actually true? I can't find anything about this on the web.

These are the areas and criteria:

North West: Stockport, Bolton, Trafford, Cheshire West and Chester, Bury
Midlands: Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Walsall
South West: Cornwall
South East: Hampshire, West Sussex, Medway, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove
London and East of England: Kingston and Richmond, Barking and Dagenham, Islington, Ealing, Hillingdon
North East and Yorkshire and the Humber: Gateshead, Bradford, Sheffield, Eastriding, Wakefield, North Yorkshire
The additional 15 hours of free childcare is available for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage, and earns less than £100,000 a year.

Having 3 under 5 does. It entitle you unless you both work more than 16 hours.

Teerible autocorrect sorry!

Argh!

Thanks all

• idontlikealdi - does this mean I can't as I am in Haringry? a friend in Hackney says she is getting this as she has a 4 year old and toddler twins.

I know that there will be 30 hours free childcare for all 3 & 4 year olds as of Sept 2017 but I'm talking about 30 hours specifically for those with 3 children under 5 years old

No the criteria is as stated above, but for all 3 & 4 year olds from sept 2017. Some areas are in pilot schemes as of sept 2016 but the criteria is still the same.

not for all 3&4 yr olds that should say.

There is no entitlement to childcare based on the number of children you have

Some areas are trialling the 30 hours for eligible 3-4 year olds

How old are the dt's? I cant remember what its called but i remember dd's friends mum (a childminder) telling me when my dt's were babies that you can get childminding help for them as a sort of respite i guess. Might have been in a text, will have a look to see.

Only problem is, i think cm's can only have one under 1 at a time.

Ah sorry, just realised you were wanting more hours for the 3 year old

That rule is exempt for twins. (The 2 under 1).

The only other thing I can think you're friend may have got op is the HV can sometimes recommend you are given the 2 year old funded hours. But even then that's still only 15 hours at the moment.

You got my hopes up for a moment idont ! But in Hampshire at least it is only Portsmouth that is trailing them ...

Not heard of anything for parents with 3 children under 5 I'm afraid. Just the 30hrs due to come in for 3-4yr olds, if any nurseries offer it.

I had four under 3, and still have four under 5 and have never heard of this. Would have been an absolute lifesaver for me so I would have known about it. My twins are 4 now and start reception next September.

I wouldn't hold your breath for the 30 hours, none of the CMS I know will be offering it as they simply cannot afford to- team amount paid by the council is a good 40-60p per hour less than their going rste- they wouldn't even break even let alone make a profit

Unless the government pays a decent rate to childcare providers or allows them to charge a small top up fee, they literally won't be able to afford to do it so will only take younger children and babies.

Tbh much as I would welcome the thirty hours coming in, I'm not sure
I want it to if it will have a negative impact on the quality of care and facilities. it might be a huge financial sacrifice but I want my daughter's 3 days a week in childcare to be in a setting which does not have to scrimp and save.