Funded nursery hours-concerns, questions, advice?

[HelpMePlease32]

Hi, I've just become seperate from my partner (we still live together but we aren't together) I've made a solo claim for UC for now and I've been told I am entitled to 15 hours for my 2yo. I've gone on my council website and they have said I'm eligible have given me a code. What do I do now? Is it too late for him to start this term? He is my only child and I'm wary of him going to nursery because he is very attached to me, he is non speaking at the moment and there are concerns about ASD, (we have a GDA form to complete and speeches therapy referred) I'm worried he won't fit in or the environment won't me suitable for him.
Any advice or information much appreciated. I'm very anxious about it.

When you can start will depend on nursery availability. There are none near me with availability before next summer and the good ones are Sept 26, so you’ll want to call around and get on waiting lists.

I think for funding to start near me, you had to be enrolled on 1st September, but that may change by council. Your funding may kick in from January if that’s the case for you too.

Remember that you can’t claim the 20% tax free childcare and UC, but you can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs; as long as they’re reasonable to your hours worked and they’re with a registered provider.

Edited to add that if there are childminders near you, that might be something to explore. I’d be a bit worried about a non-verbal toddler in a standard toddler room, but I’m sure the staff would do what they could to make it work, at a good nursery.

Echo the above PP. Maybe try a childminder for a time. Less children and more of an easier transition than nursery.

In terms of funding, we jsut gave the code to our childminder and they did the rest.

Thanks. I called one nursery and she did say something about needing to check my code with their funding team and might not be possible until January.