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I have read the government website four times and I'm more confused than when I started.
Son is 14 months. I work 4 days. Partner works full time. We're in Lewisham. What do we actually get, when does it start, and why did our nursery say something about 'consumables' that we still have to pay for?
Please be kind, I've been up since 4.
Very roughly: if you both work and earn over the minimum threshold (and neither of you over the high earner cap), working parents can get funded hours from 9 months old. You apply online, get a code, give it to the nursery, and reconfirm it every three months. Set a reminder for the reconfirming, honestly, people lose their place by missing it.
The hours are 'term time', so 38 weeks a year, but lots of nurseries stretch them across the year so it works out as fewer hours per week.
reconfirm EVERY THREE MONTHS?? ok. reminder set.
The consumables thing: the funded hours are meant to cover the childcare itself, but nurseries are allowed to charge for extras like meals, nappies, trips, sometimes 'enrichment' like music classes. Some charge a few quid a day, some charge a lot. Ask for it in writing per day so you can compare.
Ours told us the consumables charge was 'optional' and then when we asked to opt out they said we'd have to send a packed lunch AND pick up before tea. So optional in the loosest sense.
Also beware that the codes and the nursery's own term dates don't always line up. Our code was valid from a date in the middle of a term and the nursery said it wouldn't apply until the next term started. Ask them exactly when your first funded month will be.
This thread has done more than the website. Thank you. Going to bed at 8 tonight.
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