JoshHuntCUFC
Youth team regular
Posts: 770
Favourite CUFC player: Mark Peters
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Post by JoshHuntCUFC on Nov 21, 2023 14:14:40 GMT
For context, for those who are unaware, the amount of free childcare that parents qualify for is changing: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/upcoming-changes-to-childcare-support/As a result, in Jan 2025, my child (expected Jan 2024), will be 1 year old and qualify for 15 hours free childcare per week. We are looking to send her to a nursery, 2 days per week, which will cost £62.50 per day and therefore £125 per week. I wondered if anyone knew how much "15 hours free childcare" was actually worth in monetary terms, so I can calculate roughly how much the placement will realistically cost us. e.g: if "15 hours free childcare" is worth 15 x £4 = £60, then I will be charged £125 - £60 = £65 per week. Any estimations, however rough, are much appreciated. Other than the URL above, most info I've read online is very vague and not very useful.
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Post by Russ Greaves on Nov 21, 2023 14:59:38 GMT
I might be struggling to catch your meaning here, but if you've got 15 hours free childcare and want to send your child to nursery for two days, that 15-hour allowance will cover you - there will be no cost.
The hourly/daily rate of the childcare provider in question is not relevant - you get 15 hours for free.
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JoshHuntCUFC
Youth team regular
Posts: 770
Favourite CUFC player: Mark Peters
|
Post by JoshHuntCUFC on Nov 21, 2023 15:19:44 GMT
I might be struggling to catch your meaning here, but if you've got 15 hours free childcare and want to send your child to nursery for two days, that 15-hour allowance will cover you - there will be no cost. The hourly/daily rate of the childcare provider in question is not relevant - you get 15 hours for free. I thought that perhaps the government might have a certain maximum hourly rate they'd be willing to cover. Like surely they wouldn't cover kids going to a super expensive, boutique, Harrods toy filled nursery for 15 hours? Either way, if your explanation is correct, and 15 hours will be covered, as our chosen nursery is open from 07.30-18.30 (11 hours) I imagine the first day will be covered and 4 hours of the second day will be covered. My understanding is that they charge for a whole day whether the child is there for the whole day or not, so presumably that's the 11 hours used.
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Post by Russ Greaves on Nov 21, 2023 16:02:35 GMT
All the childcare facilities eligible under the scheme will have signed up (or it will have been mandatory for them to do so), so your super-expensive boutique nursery probably won't be an option!
Your 15 hours of free childcare will give you just that: 15 hours of free childcare. Anything over the 15 hours you'll have to pay whatever the rate is.
By the way, despite what some moany parents will say (usually in jest, I'm sure), the time spent with your child will be absolutely priceless. Every moment of it. Enjoy!
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JoshHuntCUFC
Youth team regular
Posts: 770
Favourite CUFC player: Mark Peters
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Post by JoshHuntCUFC on Nov 21, 2023 16:13:15 GMT
Thanks Russ.
I'm guessing in my specific scenario then that effectively Day 1 will be free (other than meals, sundries, etc) and Day 2 will be partially paid for. So my £125 per week might be halved or better...
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Post by Russ Greaves on Nov 21, 2023 16:20:16 GMT
With a bit of luck, a full day won't equate to 11 hours (coz I'm assuming you'll be picking them up before 1830!)
But in any case, you should have a few extra quid spare for nappies and/or people who provide reassuring messages on football forums.
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JoshHuntCUFC
Youth team regular
Posts: 770
Favourite CUFC player: Mark Peters
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Post by JoshHuntCUFC on Nov 22, 2023 14:35:24 GMT
Send me your bank details
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Post by steelr on Nov 27, 2023 7:53:02 GMT
If the system is like the current 30 free hours system for 3 and 4 year olds, then the free hours will only apply for ‘term time’. so you may only get 39 weeks of 15 free hours rather than 52. In any case easiest answer may be to ask your potential nursery if they have a breakdown of their rates using free hours to help. Also, not sure if you’ve come across the ‘Tax free childcare account’. It’s a government scheme where for every £8 you pay in the government top up an extra £2 and you then pay your nursery through that account. www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare
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Post by Jerry1971 on Nov 30, 2023 14:05:25 GMT
I remember when my son was born (2009) and when he was at nursery we paid full price, with the 'free childcare' coming in after the 2010 General Election. I was quite excited... woohoo, a reduction!! When the next invoice duly arrived I was horrified to see whatever the number of publicised hours of childcare removed from the bill, but the overall amount charged not really being terribly different to what it was before. Naturally I queried this, and was put through to a very dull accountant at the Nursery chain who explained broadly in actuarial terms how they'd managed to manipulate the use of the scheme to their own best advantage. What I'm trying to say is be really careful about how they calculate this. It sadly isn't as cut and dried as booking junior in for 15 hours and not paying a penny, unless there has been a massive improvement since 2010.
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Post by zx10racer22 on Dec 11, 2023 23:37:50 GMT
Thanks Russ. I'm guessing in my specific scenario then that effectively Day 1 will be free (other than meals, sundries, etc) and Day 2 will be partially paid for. So my £125 per week might be halved or better... You should check with nursery's as you're picking one. I have three children in successive school years, who all went to nursery 2 days a week. At one point costing £1,600 a month I really needed the 30 hours when they turned 3 (as was the rule then) and thought it would cover them, but was told by their nursery that it only covered school hours (i.e., 9am - 3pm in term time only). My little monkeys were in nursery 8am to 6pm all year round and therefore the hours which I thought I would get completely for free, actually still ended up costing me a lot of money. Still worth every penny for the life education they get at nursery, IMO, but just beware that 30 free hours isn't quite as Ronseal-does-it-exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin as you might hope.
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