Will unpaid parental leave affect nursery free hours eligibility after maternity leave?

[Karma1387]

Just hoping someone may have the information I need to prevent me having to make a phonecall!

I am currently on maternity leave and I am planning on requesting 8 weeks unpaid parental leave after my years maternity and then my 6 weeks of holiday.

Does anyone know if I will lose eligibility for my eldests 30 free hours? And whether my youngest would be eligible from January (turns 9 months in december) or if we would have to wait until April?

For reference my maternity leave ends 22nd December so would request 8 weeks unpaid leave until 15th February and then I would take 6 weeks holiday to take me to the end of March.

I can't return on my old hours due to my partners days changing so I am trying to extend the time to me having to quit in the off chance his days change again or a suitable vacancy comes up with better hours at the same company.

The baby wont be eligible until April, you need to be back at work by 30th April (or 31st Jan for the Spring term).

You don't say how old the elder child is but they will possible fall in to grace period for the spring term depending on when your renewal dates fall. If 3 or 4 they will get the universal 15 hours.

My eldest doesn't turn 3 until the middle of March. Perhaps I will plan to worst case put 3 months of eldest fees onto a credit card if we lose eligibility until the spring term for the 15 hours of funding.