30 hours free childcare

[WingingIt101]

I've been looking at the childcare Gov.Uk pages and can't seem to get a clear answer on what will happen in the following situation

I am currently on mat leave with dd2.
From April 2023 I shall earn just my SMP and no employer top up.
Then in July and August I will earn zero, not even SMP. DH and I have saved hard to enable me to take the full year off with DD2. I will be returning to work full time in September.

Dd1 is currently in nursery however they do not offer any free hours.
We have managed to get her a place at another preschool starting in the April when she qualifies for her free hours. It's a great preschool and we are relieved to have secured the space both as we think she will do really well there and also we couldn't afford to have both dc in the fee paying nursery when I go back to work.

My question is whether I'll qualify for the free hours when she turns three.
The website says we are eligible if we live in the Uk and if we are in work / on mat leave. So all good.

However it also says earnings are a factor. When I log in to confirm our details for our current tax free childcare I'm asked if I will earn at least £x per month for the next three months. Currently I can answer yes but when I'm on smp (just as dd1 starts preschool) I'll have to answer "no" - does this mean I won't qualify for the free hours or is it a different threshold for the free hours / when on mat leave?!

I spoke to the childcare office before Christmas and the man was lovely but didn't have a clue! Just said I'd have to see at the time which doesn't exactly help us to plan our finances which are already tight!

I claimed 30 free hours on Mat leave. Had 1 year off also. As long as you're employed and going back you can have the 30 free hours.

Brilliant, thanks so much - it did seem mad that for the sake of a few months not earning enough I'd not be entitled but I just couldn't make heads or tails of it!

Thank you!

Yeah it's really unclear but I can confirm that I'm still eligible during the unpaid portion of maternity leave. I'm also going back after a year off.

Hi OP

Just check with your new nursery that you can use the hours in the way that you want to.

DD's current nursery only allows the free hours to be used 9-3 and anything outside of that has to be paid for.

So we've switched her to a different nursery from September which allows us to use the 30 hours 7.30-6 across 3 days.

Thanks all! Glad I wasn't the only one @BobbleWobble1 🤣

Yes we've got matrix style chart showing where the free hours are used and where the payable bits are - never bloody simple hey!!

If she's starting the free hours in April, you'll be applying in March for your code, so you will still be earning anyway.

It's the term after they turn 3 and old school 3 terms. So if birthday is april to August hrs start September, birthday September to Dec start January, birthday Jan to April start at Easter. Easter varies so need to see by Yr.

Can I ask how your childcare providers manage the 30 hours funded childcare?
My DD goes in 6 hours a day, 9 to 3. Therefore in my eyes, 5 days x 6 hours = 30 hours = fully funded.
Nursery are saying they're open 8 till 6, therefore 3 days @ 10 hours are funded, 2 days we have to pay.
My argument is they're claiming the 10 hours per day govt funding, but only providing 6 hours childcare.
Interested to know your thoughts.
TIA.

I think they can choose to offer the funding how they like. Some places may give flexibility and let you choose when you use them, others may specify 3x 10 hour days. You can either use 3x 10 hours days for free, or pay what they’re asking, or find a different nursery who offers you what you are wanting.

probably the issue is, if your child is there 9-3 and only paying 9-3, they aren’t going to find a different child to take the space from 8-9 and 3-6, so they’d be out of pocket if they did it the way you want. Different in a pre school which is only open 9-3 anyway!