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Parenting

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Original poster

Childcare reform in the Budget - second children

13 replies

deliwoman1 · 15/03/2023 17:07

Does anyone know whether, if you're on mat leave for baby 2, baby 1 will still get their free hours under this new scheme? I'm sure things will become clearer in the near future, just wondering if I missed something in the announcement.

We were vaguely thinking we'd start trying for baby no.2 when DD turns one in four months (short gap due to my age), but we'd be tempted to put this off if we might benefit financially from waiting.😕

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SheepSaysBaa · 15/03/2023 17:09

Wondering same thing but it said both parents must be working 16+ hrs to qualify so asssuming not during mat leave?

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deliwoman1 · 15/03/2023 17:26

@SheepSaysBaa Exactly. But, it seems crazy to expect parents who have depended on the free hours to suddenly start paying exorbitant amounts (and it will be exorbitant) for childcare while on mat leave, which is the time people can least afford it. That will essentially force children who have places out of the settings while their mums are on mat leave for siblings who are close-ish in age. Wildly disruptive to kids' development I'd think, and for them re-entering childcare when the mat leave is up. It's hard enough to get decent nursery place as it is! Plus, it'll be a nightmare for mothers who have to look after a newborn and a toddler while recovering from birth...

Oh wait, I see. Back to work you go mums, asap. This is a massive disincentive to remain on maternity leave for as long as you're currently entitled to, and spend time investing in your children. As if that's a bloody waste of time and no use to society at all or something. 😡

You can technically work a second job while on mat leave from your first job, if you started it before a particular time in your pregnancy, but 16hrs makes it very tough.

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SheepSaysBaa · 15/03/2023 21:03

Well it doesn’t really change anything in terms of mat leave for me. Would have had to take her out of nursery for this anyway as couldn’t have afforded it while off one way or another. Bit sad for her to not be with her buddies at all for a year but then she gets another year with me (and potential) sibling so that’s lovely. If against expectations there is funding towards a few hours for her whilst on siblings mat leave I guess I’d let her go in for a few hours a week but still mostly keep her at home.

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tealandteal · 15/03/2023 21:07

Currently you can claim them, I haven’t seen anything to suggest that will change. In order to qualify the for the full funding from 9 months, the child would have to be born around Jan 2025 so that’s quite a bigger age gap compared to your thoughts.

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deliwoman1 · 16/03/2023 07:33

I can take a year’s mat leave and would work until due date unless there were issues. Thankfully my job is pretty easy to wfh so it’s possible. With annual leave thrown in I’ve been able to take 15 months off with my first (I’ve worked a second job teaching a class since she was 7 weeks though), and I’d do the same for baby no.2, so the child would qualify for 30 hrs by the time I was ready to go back to work.

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ChickenBurgers · 16/03/2023 07:35

The current 30 hours funding remains in place if you go on mat leave, I would presume this funding will be the same.

Yoshithegreen · 16/03/2023 07:36

Hopefully it will be the same as the 3 year olds 30 free hours. I still got them while in mat leave for my oldest. Only problem I can see is not having them from 9months while on mat leave otherwise people would use it as free childcare

onlythesparrow · 16/03/2023 07:40

I've read that it's going to come in phases, the 30 hours from 9 months comes last and doesn't start until September 2024. (If it happens at all.)

Being on maternity leave still counts as employment so I'd assume that means your eldest would still qualify.

smellyflowers · 16/03/2023 07:44

The current scheme allows for maternity leave - so I imagine the new one will

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deliwoman1 · 16/03/2023 07:57

@onlythesparrow I think the 30 hours from 9 months only starts in Sept 2025. 🙁 And yes, I’m doubtful it’ll happen too. It’s massively undercosted.

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deliwoman1 · 16/03/2023 08:03

@Yoshithegreen I think they’ll make it so that particular funding starts after the mat leave for that child ends. So if you want them to start childcare you have to go back to work, at least part time. I’m on mat leave from my main job now and my 8 month old goes to a childminder one day a week because I work a second job, but I bet that won’t count as enough hours 🙄

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chillichutneysarnie · 16/03/2023 11:22

I wouldn't base any decisions about the future of your family on this. It's just a headline grab and probably will fail as the nurseries won't be able to afford to offer the funded places.

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deliwoman1 · 16/03/2023 14:31

@chillichutneysarnie you're absolutely right. I think we'll just go with what makes sense for us now. Thanks x

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