Free childcare entitlement - worried

MrsSippi

When my eldest reached 3 years old we were entitled to 15 hrs free childcare per week and a portion of our usual monthly bill was deducted to allow for this. At the time DH was working full time and I was working part time (22.5 hrs a week).

When we had our second child a couple of years ago I had to give up work completely as quite simply we couldn't afford any nursery (full or part time) for her as well as breakfast clubs/after school clubs for our eldest.

My plan was to try and return to work when youngest turns 3 and gets her free hours (which I think is being increased to 30 hrs a week from later this year - but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!)

I'm now a bit worried because having looked into it again it sounds like we'd only be entitled to the hours if we are BOTH working. Is this right? So as it stands we wouldn't get anything? I don't really have any family support with babysitting do it would be near impossible for me to get a job BEFORE she starts preschool but then we won't get the free hours entitlement? Help!

Update (sorry) - having done more research it sounds like we wouldn't get the 30 hours but should still get the 15 hours - is this correct? Very confused!!!!

adea

To get the 30 hours, both of you would need to be working.
Taken from Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/find-free-early-education
Available in England only
All 3 and 4-year-olds in England are entitled to 570 hours of free early education or childcare a year. This is often taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year.

Some 2-year-olds are also eligible.

Spendless

The 15 hours a week children get the term after their 3rd birthday is for free nursery education.

The confusion comes in because many people (myself included) use it to reduce their childcare bill whilst they work.

I've not heard anything to say this is being discontinued (though mine are now teenagers and I don't work in education so could have missed something)

neneromanova

The 15 free hours are still carrying on along side the new 30hrs. You can only get the 30 free hours if you both work 16hrs a week and earn less than £100k.

MrsSippi

neneromanova wrote: »

The 15 free hours are still carrying on along side the new 30hrs. You can only get the 30 free hours if you both work 16hrs a week and earn less than £100k.

Thank you for all the replies. So it sounds like we would only get the 15 hours rather than the 30 I was hoping for (initially at least) It's not the end of the world and it's great that we still get something - it would just be a lot easier for me to find a job if the 30 hours were available to us before I get a job rather than afterwards.

susancs

MrsSippi wrote: »

Thank you for all the replies. So it sounds like we would only get the 15 hours rather than the 30 I was hoping for (initially at least) It's not the end of the world and it's great that we still get something - it would just be a lot easier for me to find a job if the 30 hours were available to us before I get a job rather than afterwards.

The 15 hours a week during term time is a universal entitlement is for all 3/4 year old children from the term after their third birthday. It can also be spread over the year which works out 12 hours a week.

The 30 hours starts nationally in September (22 hours if spread over the year) and is for working parents who are earning at least 16 hours at minimum wage pay. If there are two parents in the household both need to be working for the 30 hours. For the hours outside of the 30 hours you can sign up to the govt site to get tax free childcare i.e. 20% less.

However you need to be aware that the scheme is underfunded in a lot of areas i.e. the setting does not get enough money to cover actual costs of the childcare, so may charge for extras and restrict the hours/days the funding can be used.

pinkshoes

Childcare is so painfully expensive!

I'm a teacher and I take home less than £50 after childcare, and if I worked a third day I would lose money!

You will still get the 15 hours (term time), but the 30 hours are for those where both of you are working. Not many nurseries are able to offer this though, so it might be worth doing some research to see if this is an option.

My local nursery is offering it, but only if you take the 30 hours from 7am until 1pm Monday to Friday.