“Free” Childcare Hours – Don’t Fall Into These Common Traps!

If you're a parent in the UK, you've probably heard about the government’s free childcare hours scheme – and let’s be honest, it sounds like an absolute lifesaver. Who wouldn't want up to 15 or 30 hours of free childcare per week? But before you pop the champagne, it's worth taking a closer look. There are a few sneaky pitfalls that can turn “free” childcare into a surprisingly pricey experience if you’re not careful.

So, let’s break it down and make sure you don’t fall into the most common traps.

1. It's Only Free in Term Time – Not All Year Round

This is the big one that catches so many people out.

Those 15 or 30 hours per week? They only apply during term time, which is typically 38 weeks of the year. If your child’s nursery or childminder runs all year round (most do), the hours are usually “stretched” across 52 weeks – meaning you’ll actually get fewer free hours per week. For example, 30 term-time hours stretched becomes just under 22 hours per week over the full year.

So, if you're planning your finances or your working hours based on 30 hours every week – take a second look. You might be in for a surprise when those invoices arrive!

2. “Free” Doesn’t Mean Everything is Free

Even with your allocated hours, nurseries are allowed to charge for additional costs – and many do.

This can include things like meals, snacks, nappies, wipes, trips, or even admin and registration fees. These “essentials” are not covered by the government funding, so they’ll be added to your bill separately.

Always ask for a clear breakdown of what’s included in the free hours and what you’ll need to pay for. Some settings are more transparent than others, and it's better to know upfront than be surprised later.

3. Timing Is Everything – Apply at the Right Time!

You can’t just apply for the free hours whenever you fancy – there are strict cut-off dates based on your child’s birthday.

For example, if your child turns 3 in March, they won’t qualify for the free hours until the start of the next term, which might not be until April. If you miss the deadline to apply, you could end up waiting an extra term to get your funding – and that’s potentially hundreds of pounds down the drain.

Mark those dates in your calendar and apply early. You usually need to apply the term before you want the funding to start.

*I’m talking from personal experience with this one. We had to pay for a few months of full-price nursery for our youngest and let me tell you- it was a sad, sad time in the Sherwood household! 😭

4. Reconfirm Your Eligibility Regularly

If you're using the 30 free hours or the tax-free childcare scheme, there’s one more admin task you must stay on top of: reconfirming your eligibility.

You need to do this every three months. Yes, really – every single quarter. HMRC will email you a reminder, but it’s easy to miss, especially with everything else going on in family life. If you forget, you could temporarily lose your funding and have to pay full fees until it’s sorted out.

Set yourself a reminder, save the date in your phone – whatever works for you. It’s a small task that can save you a lot of money and hassle.

In Summary…

The free childcare scheme can be a fantastic support for working families – but only if you understand how it really works. Take the time to read the small print, ask questions, and plan ahead. A little bit of admin now can save you a lot of stress (and money!) later.

And remember: you’re definitely not the only one scratching your head over this stuff! If you’ve got questions, worries, or even a funny story from your own childcare escapades, don’t be shy—drop a comment or share this post with a fellow parent. Let’s help each other make sense of the system—because raising kids is tough enough without surprise invoices!

Until next time,

Katie

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