I get the extra 15 hours for working parents for my 3 year old (30 hours total). There's a minimum amount you still need to earn over 3 months
If you qualify and have a child already using the scheme then yes you still get the hours for them when you’re off, if you’re not back at work and try to claim for you 1st you can’t get hours until you have a return to work date x
If you have a child already claiming hours then yes, but otherwise no. It’s also not free, it’s funded.
Only if you started the childcare before you were on mat leave
i get 15 free hours and i’m on maternity but the hours that i get are because i don’t earn above a threshold and get support from UC so im not sure about the hours which are free if you earn over a certain amount