When to apply for funding if child starts nursery in April?

I know when to apply for that funding, I mean the 85% towards childcare until that point.

@Chloe thank you, so you don't actually know how much you will get back? What if you can't afford the upfront costs before the reimbursement?

That’s if you can’t afford your initial fees. Best off to contact them with your specific details/situation to find out what you’re entitled to and how it will work. Have you also got a nursery place reserved for April? Because if not, you’re going to want to sort that out as well (assuming the payment of fees is going to work out for you) because waiting lists can be massive!

Yes I've got a nursery placement sorted, atleast to the extent of location at the moment. I'm just in the process of sorting out specific dates and time slots, as these need provided by mid jan. So I'm trying to work out realistically what I'm able to afford where i can still manage to pay my bills. I'm a lone parent with no childcare options outside of paying for it other than the odd hour if an emergency.

At the moment, it's looking like it will cost me almost my full wage to cover this myself. So without funding or any other support for childcare, it's looking like I'm going to have to choose either to work or to survive.

I'm not in UC but we started looking for the 15 free hours for the new baby that will start in April but we can't apply for it whilst I'm on maternity leave. So will have to pay full for March once I go back.

@Francisca yeah it's annoying that it doesn't kick in until the term after they turn 9m. So I have to wait until August/September and somehow manage to fund it fully myself between April and then😢