Free childcare hours and redundancy

Hiiii! I am currently 33 weeks pregnant (due to go on maternity leave in 3 weeks time) and have a 2.5 year old. My company are closing our office and I am therefore being made redundant and currently going through the “consultation period”. I’ve googled and googled and can’t get a straight answer anywhere, my question is, will I lose my 2.5 year olds free 15 hours at nursery? I’ll technically still be paid my statutory mat PAY, because they legally have to, but this doesn’t mean I am on statutory mat LEAVE because technically I have been made redundant. Any advice much appreciated as I am super stressed. I really wanted my 2.5 year old to still go to nursery a day and a half a week to give me and the baby one to one bonding time and also just to give me a break. I’m stressing about affording things just on statutory mat pay now rather than the enhanced pay I should have been getting, never mind throwing losing my childcare hours into the mix as well. Thanks all x

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Hey, I don't know the answer to your question but maybe post on Legal advice UK on Reddit or ask Pregnant then skrewed, they might know more. Hope everything works out ❤️

You should still get the 15 hours free. I haven’t been through what you are going through but I did leave my job due to not feeling comfortable due to staff and I still get the 15 hours free. X

Best thing I can suggest is go into your council website and find the eligibility section for the hours and check x

I was made redundant last Christmas. As I understood you have to update your work status on your government gateway account which meant we lost entitlement to tax free child care. ( he wasn’t old enough for free hours at that time) I think your case is a bit different with your being due on mat leave so I would check with maybe the citizens advice bureau

You'll still get 15 hours, Legislation was rolled out this September to open free childcare to 2year olds also

Defo get legal advise. aCAS are good

@Anita there is 2 catchment times as well for the free 15 hours. There’s 1 in April and 1 in September. I only know that as my daughter missed it in April as she was born in may so her funding went through in September. X

@Kaitlyn no you can apply all year round and the term after your child turns 2, if the nursery/childminder has availability you can start. But that maybe a regional process

@Anita no you can’t at all. I couldn’t apply in APRIL as my daughter turns 2 in MAY! I HAD to wait until SEPTEMBER to apply for the funding as it was the next catchment time for me to apply for her funding. This is MY child not yours I know what I’ve just had to do at her nursery which goes onto the primary school. I couldn’t apply after may until September when they were accepting the funding forms. So don’t tell me I’m wrong when I know when I’ve just done! My child started nursery back in December last year and I was paying the full price until September when her 15 hours started.

@Kaitlyn as I stated it may be a regional process, 🤯🤯🤯 ignorance is bliss

You are required to confirm your details via the government website, every 3 months. This is a way for them to check both parents are still in employment and meeting the criteria for the 15 hours. When you are next required to do so, so you will be able to let them know you are no longer in employment. However- best thing to do is ring the helpline. They will be able to give you a more definitive answer, as to where you stand.

Me again, you can only check your eligibility 3 times a year

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