How does free childcare work?

[NishaaS123]

Hi guys, so my toddler is 3 and I want to go back to work I have been applying getting a few interviews. I receive UC atm and my partner works full time. My nursery told me I get 30 hours a week if I work and 15 hours if I don’t.

the question is if I work and get 30 hours are there just in term time? I would need childcare in school holidays aswell how does that work out? So uc help with childcare cost aswell?

thank you

This is a minefield as all nurseries will do this differently. Also, they aren't really free, they're funded. You will have to pay some sort of top up. How much will depend on the nursery.

You will most likely pay a consumables charge. My nursery stretches the 30hrs 'free' childcare across the year so my DS gets 22hrs a week

You can also get 20% off the childcare bill by using the government tax free childcare site.

You won't be able to get tax free childcare if you are on universal credit, however they will pay up to 85% of your childcare costs in addition to the 30 funded hours. Depending on the nursery will depend on how they do things. But as long as they are a registered provider, you upload your costs on your universal credit and then your next payment they will pay you anything that is during your pay period