2k invoice for nursery pls help!

[extraordinarymachine26]

We were eligible for Tax free and 30 free hours. DC just turned 3.
I was made redundant this Mar, DP quit his job this August (so now none of us are in paid employment).

AFAIK there is a grace period for the 30 free hours, we were paying normal rate until this wk (Oct) nursery said the code doesn't work anymore and now they have send us a £2,300 bill for this month (3 days per week PLUS the shortfall for Sep now that apparently we didn't have funding then).

Am I right in there being a grace period for these 30 free hours or will we just have to suck up and pay the below and probably take DC out of nursery ASAP as this is in no way affordable for 2 unemployed ppl!

We are not entitled to UC but DP is on New style JSA (and looking for work but unlikely to find something till 2027 given the current market).

Anyone with any advice would be welcome!

When were you made redundant?

If you were made redundant last year then you will have long fallen out of your grace period.

There is a grace period but if you’ve both been it of work for a while now you’re probably past it. In the recent reconfirmation you are both now not working so not eligible.

in Mar this year so it's been a while. Am on a course atm planning to look for work after it finishes in Dec - did try for a few months this year but no luck after sending 40 applications - just got 1 interview (I agree it's not that many so got a way to go).

Yes so the grace period will have finished. It’s usually 3 months and March was 6 months ago.

but isn't 1 partner working enough to claim the 30 free hours? cos he only left his job in August... :/

Your grace period is till the end of the term you were eligible so would have been till July (august if you used stretched funding)
You’ll only get the 15 hours free.

No both parents need to be working. You’d be entitled to the universal 15 hours still though but I think maybe you need to apply for it.

No, both parents (or one of a single parent household).

Also when did DC turn 3? You’ll be eligible for the 15 hours the term after they turn 3

No its universal and no code is needed for the 15 hoirs for 3 and 4 year olds.

No, you should be looking after your own children if you aren’t in work

Why on earth did your dp quit his job while you were unemployed and he wasn’t likely to get a new job till next year?

I am aware if one partner is working the benefits to your childcare change.

What a ridiculous and unhelpful response....

We didn't realise about the nursery thing - he doesn't live with me so it's a bit complicated, yes im hoping the universal 15h will kick in but it's the term after they turn 3 so probs will start in January 2027 - guess no financial help for now so might have to take my DC out for a couple months 😫 thanks all.

Sorry if I’ve missed it but why can’t you both take it in turns to look after your dc if neither of you are working particularly if you can’t afford it at the moment?

He quit his job while you were out of work? Unless you have tons of savings that seems a bit of an odd thing to do!

Check that you'd be able to get him back in.

I mean, you may not have the choice - but at least you'd be prepared. We tried to move my son for 18 months, there was no room at any local nursery because of the funded hours. There's a real nursery place crisis in most areas.

It might be easier to drop days; but again, lots of places have a minimum and then you might not be able to increase days afterwards if other parents claim them.

It's complicated!

yeah I was not happy about it (it was unexpected) but just stupidly nursery hours hadn't crossed my mind otherwise I'd have said NO STOP! but what's done is done. yeah we will have to for now though I worry taking him out may risk losing our spot come January when DC can go at least 1 or 2 days for the 15h, as any1 with a toddler knows having them home FT makes it difficult to do other things (like look for work) especially if you're a single parent. DP is not rly a partner but helps out where possible. We will make it work even though it will be tough.

You need to give notice to the nursery that from now on you only want the 15 free hours and nothing more. If they don't have any options for that (some nurseries have limited places for that option because they lose money on those children) then you will need to give notice to leave altogether and find a different nursery that can do just the 15 hours.

If your child turned 3 after 1st September then those free hours do not start until 1st January. If you can get defined as a low income family (which clearly you are but there are specific qualifying criteria) then they will be there already as they come in from age 2. As you probably are contractually obliged to give a full term's notice for any changes, you are probably legitimately liable for this invoice and any other charges that are legitimately incurred until your contractually valid notice is fulfilled, and you can't change or challenge that - but you can't magic up money you don't have so all you can do is acknowledge the debt and tell them you will pay it off at £10 per month, or whatever you can afford, until such time as you or DH are earning again - and do everything in your power to make that happen as soon as possible.

Is the course you are on lasting all year and will it lead to having a good chance of better employment? You might be wise to cut your losses and just take any job you can get - there are always vacancies in care work and cleaning if all else fails.

Pretty bold to be quitting a job when partner is also out of work and has a child to provide for. Especially given your comment that he won’t be able to find a job until the NY. I’d be reluctant to remove DC from nursery as you may lose out on a place for him next year.

Some truth in it.

@extraordinarymachine26 why aren't you eligible for UC?

So he quit his job you got made redundant, both not working but still want someone else to look after you child.

Thats not how parenting works is it.