Would you use extra free childcare?

Former_MSE_Will · 11 September 2015 at 2:40PM

From September 2016 the Government will double the amount of free childcare available to families from 15 to 30 hours a week. This is for working parents of three- and four-year-olds.

Would you use this extra childcare?
Would it allow you to work more?
Or would you use it because it’s there, but you’re doing OK without it?

The Government wants to know what you think. Take its quick online survey to tell it, and then please share your thoughts below.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.
If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our [URL="http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/forum-introduction-guide!]Forum Intro Guide[/URL]
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vroombroom · 11 September 2015 at 3:29PM

God yes without a doubt, but it has come too late for us as our son has just started school. I can't see it being extended to breakfast and afterschool clubs either x

double_mummy · 11 September 2015 at 6:15PM

would have been lovely before mine went to school

give all working parents with school age children 15 free hours a week

chanie · 11 September 2015 at 10:14PM

Definitely yes,but my youngest starts school in September 2016, so we are too late.

When I had my first child, OH and I both worked full time, but we couldn't afford two lots of childcare when we had our second. OH reduced his hours as I am the higher earner and is about to increase them as our youngest is now getting the 15 hours.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of childcare costs, but it has been a struggle and things have been very tight. I can see why some parents stop working.

haras_nosirrah · 12 September 2015 at 7:13AM

I think it would have been better to keep it to 15 hours but instead include all 2 year olds for the free hours rather than just those from poorer families. Ironically the people I know who get the free hours at 2 are those that don't work therefore don't need the free hours?

I don't think I will use the full 30 hours. I like my son and enjoy spending time with him. He will be going to nursery 9 till 4 on Tuesday's and Friday from January so am paying for a could of hours but I don't think I want to put him in for extra days. I work 3 days and the third day he goes to grandparents which he enjoys as do they so don't think I would take that away from them

GwylimT · 12 September 2015 at 7:46AM

No, my wife and I both work part time as we do not want to use childcare.

sexymouse · 16 September 2015 at 8:54AM

I think they should concentrate on regulating the costs of all of the "extras" the nurseries charge for when you get funded hours - eg. one nursery I viewed recently charged £8 for lunch!!! Also, due to the fact that the government doesn't pay the nurseries the full cost per hour for the childcare, many in my area restrict the hours the child can attend without paying for the additional hours (eg. the child can only attend for funded hours between 1-3pm or 9-12), so if you need to go to work, that's a lot of additional hours to self-fund. Paying full day rates in the holidays if you don't need them to attend then also is frustrating.

AndyBSG · 16 September 2015 at 9:58AM

I have a 5 month old and my wife is currently on maternity leave which is due to end in 4 months time.

Trying to work out childcare arrangements for when she goes back to work has been a nightmare because we simply did not realise how much a nursery would cost.

We're looking at roughly £50 a day for 08:00 to 18:00 childcare so by the time that is paid, tax and NI and travel expenses my wife will be looking at less than £300 a month take home for what will be a 10 hour 'door to door' day

Obvious conclusion is that she may well be better off not returning to work so we may well have to do that until our little one is old enough to qualify for free child care.

Rose80 · 16 September 2015 at 10:55AM

Is this England only?

kathrynha · 16 September 2015 at 11:11AM

My daughter is too old for it, but I would of considered using it if it had been available.
The problem I had with it was I couldn't use it for the childminder, and the hours the school nursery offered meant that wrap around childcare was needed, and as childminders can only have a limited number of pre-schoolers the wrap around care would be using one of her allowed places, so a full day had to be paid for.
Thankfully I was able to use family for childcare on the school nursery days.

Instead of giving the extra 15 hours free childcare to 2 and 4 year olds I think they should give it to working parents of primary aged kids for school holidays for holiday clubs, as I think this can be more of an issue for parents being able to work than pre-school childcare.

ezzauk · 16 September 2015 at 11:27AM

AndyBSG wrote: »

I have a 5 month old and my wife is currently on maternity leave which is due to end in 4 months time.

Trying to work out childcare arrangements for when she goes back to work has been a nightmare because we simply did not realise how much a nursery would cost.

We're looking at roughly £50 a day for 08:00 to 18:00 childcare so by the time that is paid, tax and NI and travel expenses my wife will be looking at less than £300 a month take home for what will be a 10 hour 'door to door' day

Obvious conclusion is that she may well be better off not returning to work so we may well have to do that until our little one is old enough to qualify for free child care.

I tottaly agree with the above, we have a 2 year old son and a 7 month old daugher. Our son is in pre-school 2 and half days a week and this aloan costs about £380 a term. Our son is delayed in his speech and has been adviced to attend pre-school to help with this put due to cost and no funding available we can only aford the 2 & half days. My parneter now works PT nights over the weekend to bring in some extra cash.

Would you use extra free childcare?

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