Nursery Confusion!
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My baby will be going to nursery for Jan 2026. Same on the above I can’t afford to take a whole year off! So going back to work at 9 months x
It's worth looking up the changes to childcare that are coming in from September. Our babies should be eligible for up to 30 hours funding from 9 months old. It's a bit complicated and depends on when exactly you go back to work. It works out for us at 2 funded full days at nursery from 1st Jan 2026 (we just pay for consumables as extra - worth checking this as different nurseries charge hugely different rates for consumables). If you're thinking about nursery it's worth looking now - lots of places are fully booked due to the increase in funded places meaning there's more demand so in some areas people are really struggling to find a place.
@Emily I think my local nursery will be similar. With the 2 funded days, how does payments work? Do we pay upfront & claim the money back?
No, the nursery will work it all out for you. You don't pay the hours that are funded. You just pay whatever their consumables charge is. For us it's £80 per month. Another nursery we looked at was £25 per day so would work out at around 200-250 a month depending on how many days in the month. Huge difference! So you just pay that amount either by bank transfer etc or if you are eligible the best way is through your tax free childcare account which you need to sign up for. You pay into your TFC account and for every £80 you put in, the government top up with extra £20. You then pay the nursery from that account. Hope that makes sense!
@Emily that makes sense. Thank you so much it's so confusing but your explanation helped 😊😊
It's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' depending on parental work responsibilities. My first went at 1, this one will have to start at 9mths. Heads up though that the free childcare from 9mths is in England only. In Wales you don't get the free hours until 3 (or 2 if you're in a Flying Start area). Don't know about Scotland or NI (or obvs outside UK)
i’m going to be putting my son in end of jan 2026, he’ll be 9 months ish depending on when born as he’s due end of april, i did the same with my first born (i also currently work in a nursery but i wont be working in my new babies nursery) xxx
My baby will be going from next Jan x
@Kate thanks for highlighting this ! I’m from Wales and a lot of people give advice thinking it’s the same for England & Wales… when there’s quite a huge difference. As I won’t be entitled to free childcare until my baby is 2-3. I will be a stay at home mum in the day but working evenings & weekends (I’m self employed) when my husband is around or when my mum can help out I might be able to do a few hours in the afternoon.
Mine will be going part time from approx 11 months. If I've calculated right unfortunately we just miss out on getting 9 month funding in Jan and will have to wait till April (as they won't be 9 months old until in January). It also depends on when you return to work as to when your baby qualifies. 🙃
my little one’s only just started at the childminders as we couldn’t afford nursery and weren’t entitled to free hours until after her 3rd birthday. i’m planning on asking for more hours once I go back to work and if i can do 16+ then my little one will probably be going to the childminders at 9 months if possible as we don’t want to use my MIL for childcare anymore (drama)
My little one was about 13 months. She’s 2.9 years now
My place is booked when baby hits 9 months but to be fair we will probably do part-time (2days) until 1yr
Personally it’s up to you whenever you feel comfortable. Depending on where you live a lot of day care nurseries accepts babies from 6 months. My one started at 9 months, I was still breastfeeding so I would pump and give enough for the day and they have snacks and meals so he was always content. People did make comments like why send him in so early and blah blah but I think it’s the best thing we did as they learn so much more than they would at home. Even for the new baby we have already decided to do the same x
My little girls place is already booked for Jan 2026, I’m planning on having 10 months off work, can’t afford a full year off!