Nursery - is this free? From what age?
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My son turned 3 in March and from April will be entitled to 15hrs funding per week (12hrs a week spread over the year). I don’t work but my husband does. Check the Gov website, all 3/4yr olds are entitled to the 15hrs funding.
All 3 year olds get 15 funded hours, starting the term after they turn 3. Plan to send our daughter from 2.5, she’ll turn 3 in the June, so we’ll get the 15 hours from the September.
To second what Leanne said, most primary schools start children the September after they turn 4. (I thought they all did, but might be wrong)
Most primary schools start them from 4. So yep, if the child is attending childcare before that the parents are paying and using funded hours where eligible. We pay £1400 per child for four days a week and there was a five month period where we have to cover both before our eldest started school 🫠
free 15hours for 2 years old only if getting certain benefits like universal credit, from 3 years all get the free 15 hours but can also get 30 free hours if you are working. Most children start school from when turned 4 years to start September but don’t have to until 5 years there shouldn’t be a fee as this classed as full time education unless going private schools
This site helped me work out what I can get for childcare https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Childcare_Choices_24_25&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7dm-BhCoARIsALFk4v8EjCGWr-0zTkKt9mv1D1IkWV6-sloBtbyo_-1z2j1dIelNWJeX468aAndmEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
It’s only free when they start school.
At 3 everyone gets 15hours
I just wanted to clarify that it changes in September this year so the funded hours are 30 hours term time (22 through the year) from the term after they turn 9 months x
Everyone gets 15 free hours from the term after they turn 3 x
@Maddi this is what I thought but I did the calculator and I’m not eligible. You have to meet certain criteria
@Caroline 😭😭 so brutal
@Sierra thank you!! This is handy x
The 30 hours is for working parents only (from 9 months) that starts in September. All children get 15 hours the term after they turn 3 then start school the September after they turn 4 (if they turn 4 between April and August) you can choose to push it back a year.
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Just wanted to add the choosing if born after April isn't just a simple choice. You have to apply with evidence of why they are behind/would benefit from extra year before starting school and your local council decide on a case by case basis
If one of you is earning less than £9500 a year, it might be worth taking on a bit more work/a few more hours to go over the threshold. If one or both of you earn over 100k then you just have to pay I guess. I’m not eligible, but I stay home so don’t need it yet, although I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the 15 free hours once she’s 3.
It depends on area and eligibility. Some children are able to get 15-30 hours free term time from the age of 2 or 3 I’m sure it’s become national that children at 3 can now have 30 free hours but that’s term time only And beyond that all children can start pre school at 4 for free
If you are working not earning more than 100 k 15 hours from 9 months If you are on benefit 15 hours from 2 years There is a 15 hours from 3 to if you are not Elgibpe for the above
15hrs free for non working parents from age 2/3 30hrs free for working parents from age 2/3 earning under the avrg. threshold Free full time when they are of reception age 4/5 most kids start reception from age 4 but due to when the child’s birthday falls they may already have turned 5 due to fact they start the following term after their 4th birthday also some parents postpone kids starting school till they are 5 They are making changes though so eligibility may have slight changes as also some parents are going back to work earlier and nursery’s are taking on child placements for 6/12month due to government decisions but this is also dependent on if the nursery provides those younger placements mine recently started accepting placements for 12month old I think but very very limited places available like 2/3 idk the criteria for that though other than being a working parent
Also bare in mind even though the hrs are free most nurseries are charging consumable charges now due to the the government increasing the available spaces nurseries provide, but there is a shortfall in the funding as the funding doesn’t cover running and providing materials of activities for the nurseries something along the lines of that and the consumable fees vary for nurseries depending on what they provide - eg cooked lunches or nappies if you don’t provide that yourself etc materials for children’s activities like making cupcakes etc Eg my nursery consumable fees range from 45-60£ a month for the hours my son attends so totals to about 11£-15£ week or 1/2£ - 2/3£ a day But I provide pack lunch, nappies drinks spare clothes etc This would be more if they provided hot meals for and nappies etc for my son
It depends where you are in the UK some councils offer school nursery from the school year they turn 4 (so most children would be 3 when starting in the September) you would have to check your local schools.