Nursery

You can do both, I called my sons nursery to ask if they had any space first to save me going there if they didn’t have any then they emailed me to choose what days and times he would go. To apply for your free hours you apply on the gov website x

@Loretta thank you I think I've done the free hours because I got send a code that I will have to give to the nursery to claim it I think but thank you I will have to start ringing can I start ringing now even if I want her starting in jan ? Xx

I assume so yeah you can ask them to hold her place until then x

You can phone or email some local nurseries and if they have space you can go and visit and ask questions to make sure you are happy with everything. Once you confirm your space you may have to pay a deposit to confirm the space. If you have applied for the funding on the government website then you will have received a code. You give this code to the nursery and they will confirm your funding for you then and only invoice you for any additional hours/meals etc as confirmed with you. You can pay this via the taxfree childcare government site to get the 20% tax free reduction on any payments you make. If you were approved for funding then you should be able to make use of this also, ie you (and partner) need to earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours at minimum wage per week.

@Jodie 100% ring now and put a deposit down. Our nursery has 12mths wait list!! Babies are signed up before they are even born! The good nurseries in the best locations are in high demand.