“I’m undertaking a full-time nursing degree and my partner works, yet we still don’t qualify. It doesn’t seem fair at all.”

Megan is a student nurse and lives in Oxfordshire with her partner and son, Archie, who is three.

Megan started her full-time nursing degree in September 2021. Her partner is a self-employed builder and firefighter.

The family receive 15 hours funding for Archie to attend nursery, but they don’t qualify for 30 hours because Megan is a student. They pay for additional hours of nursery so he can attend four mornings a week.

Megan said: “Archie is thriving at nursery, and he loves seeing his friends. His speech has progressed so much since starting and his confidence has increased massively.

“It’s very frustrating that we don’t qualify for 30 hours. I didn’t realise we weren’t eligible until I went to apply for it. I was very confused as I’m undertaking a full-time nursing degree and my partner works, yet we still don’t qualify. It doesn’t seem fair at all.

“I’m not earning while I undertake my degree, so it’s hard to rely on one income and also pay for extra hours in nursery. The only way we make it work is that my mum looks after Archie in the afternoons and the day he’s not at nursery.

“We’ve had to rely on mum a lot, which she’s happy to do, but I feel having the extra hours would mean that Archie would have more time to socialise with his friends. They learn so much at this age and I think it is fundamental that children are given this opportunity to be around their own age group.”

Read more about people’s experiences with the 30 hour policy.

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