Missing out on free childcare hours

Hi everyone. I work for the nhs and maternity leave is due to finish 8th Oct. I’ve just read on the gov website that I won’t be eligible for the 15 free childcare hours until Jan as the cut off is 30th sept. Are there any ways around this such as going back earlier but using AL? Or if I did some KIT days before sept 30th and put my little one in nursery, could I start the free childcare hours from then? Really frustrating that we will miss out on a term of the free childcare hours for the sake of 8 days ☹️ TIA for any advice! X

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I sure the free child care doesn't depend on your maternity? It usually goes by the child's birthday they start the term after. So my first child just turned 3 so his 30 hours start September. My second child will be 9 months in January so will be able to start 1st April x

I’d return earlier but take annual leave

Thanks for asking this because I actually didn't know it was dependent on maternity leave either. Must be new because of starting the funded hours so much younger than they used to. I would see if you could go back one week earlier in order to qualify for the hours for those 3 months. I would think that using AL would be fine because it technically counts as employment. I'm planning to return in the middle of Jan but I'll have so much AL to take before April that I'm going to have to take a good few weeks as a block anyway. Hope it all works out for you

It's a proper pain for anyone that gave birth in autumn/winter. My LO is a November baby and we are in the same position as you. I've just had my return to work meeting (I also work for the NHS). I was going to take the full 12 months and return in November. However, after discussion and because I've got loads of annual leave. I am ending my MAT Leave, officially on 31st October and then taking Annual Leave until my LO's birthday, so I'll be officially back at work on the 11th November. This means sh*t in terms of the funded hours for September as we're still not able to claim until January as a result. But I'm sure if you use your annual leave, and have an official MAT leave date for somewhere before the end of September (but use your annual leave to take you up to babies 1st birthday) - you should be able to claim for September.

Thanks for highlighting this… I didn’t know funded hours start the term after you return to work?! You’d think funded hours would just start straight away.

I'd personally finish mat leave earlier and use some annual leave

I’m in same position my baby qualifies from sept based on age but because I don’t return to work until 1st November I can’t claim until Jan. they contacted me last week to tell me because they said you have to be actually working otherwise they expect you to be at home with the baby

This is so frustrating! They give you it in one hand and take from another

I wonder if labour win election on Thursday if they will stop the early free hours anyway so I’m not holding my breath

Iv been having this predicament. For your situation I would cut mat leave short so your officially going back before the 30th sept but then take annual leave. As you can only apply for the funded hours a month before your due back. You will end up saving a fortune with not having to pay sept-jan fees. X

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