Budget - Free Nursery hours 1 & 2 year olds 15 March at 9:09AM in Child support 16 replies 684 views

Ljc80_2

I see its expected that the 30 hours free nursery care is likely to be extended to one & 2 year olds

This is great but how quickly do you think it would be implemented if it is announced today?

I just hope it will apply to Scotland also!

Strummer22

A BBC article (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64959611) says 'equivalent funding' would be announced for Scotland. 

I would hope implementation would be quick as it's an extension to the system already in place for 3 - 4 year olds, not something brand new. A month or two maybe? I say this with hope, as my youngest has just turned 1!

Alter_ego

Not that easy for nurseries to get/train extra staff

Ljc80_2

Stummer22, I know mine turns 1 in 3 weeks it would be such a relief!

MuckChucker

Ljc80_2 said:

Stummer22, I know mine turns 1 in 3 weeks it would be such a relief!

and this is the thing, it will be such a relief to lots and should have been in place much much sooner. Our 2nd will be 3 in November so we've been "counting down the days" to the Jan '24 term to finally get that lump sum off the balance sheet. It'll be great to have that done 8 months earlier than anticipated. I don't even care that it cost us a small fortune up to now, that's just life.

Simon11

O dear, not planned to go live until 2024.... what a shame

Strummer22

oh well, at least my youngest will be eligible for the 15 hours free from next April as soon as it's available

Jinglish

Looks like he’s got the wrong budget year. Should be a 2024 statement if they are even in power.

Jeremy: ”Here is some help for those of you that need it, and want to get back into work/increase your hours”

US: “WoW” 😃 “That’s great, finally support for WORKING family’s”

Jeremy: “Well not for those that need it now, it’s just a cost of living crisis and labour shortage we want to quickly fix, it’s really for those that don’t know they need it yet, but vote conservative next election and its yours”

 US: 🤬

We need this help now, why not Sept 2023 it’s an existing system so all the framework is in place. I’m sure the nurseries will react to find staff since you are upping the payments. Most children already go so it might not be a flood of new children, plus parents need to be in work. I don’t get the delay other than political.

Matt9300

Surely a logical thing to do would be to offer it immediately to those who have experience working in the sector to get them back quicker rather than waiting until September 2025. 

Maybe even offer those still on maternity leave a cash incentive to return earlier?

Simon11

Would be great if Martin Lewis would create and start a campaign to get this implemented earlier.

Starting in Sept 2023 is surely feasible, otherwise this scheme only really benefits parents who haven't even had their child yet and haven't even clocked on about how expensive it is!

Emmia

Alter_ego said:

Not that easy for nurseries to get/train extra staff

I was wondering where the army of staff to deliver this will come from? All the trained/qualified childcarers I know don't work in childcare as the wages are too low / they can earn much more in other careers.