Do you need to reapply for funded childcare every term?

[MustardScreams]

Just that really. Do you need to fill out the forms etc every separate term? Helping my friend with her nursery info and getting rather confused!

No you have to reconfirm online-they email you in advance.

I don't know if this is what you mean, but my child just received the 15 hrs a week funded care, and I only had to fill in any forms at the beginning, possibly the second school year she was there too but certainly not every term.
(For the last year she received part funded and I paid for some top up hours too)

It can vary from LA to LA. Ours- the 15/30 hours paperwork has to be completed each term. The 30 hours from the government is different, Claimed once- but sometimes needs reconfirming, but not always.

I think it varies by LA. I had to reconfirm online every term and on top of that nursery used to send home a paper form to complete. It's a PITA.

DD2 just started reception and prior to that she had 30 'free' hours of nursery. We had to fill in paperwork for it every term. It's strange that this is not the case everywhere.

Ah I’ve just found a portal for doing all the eligibility checks etc online and then just pass that over to her nursery. I thought once you’d applied that was it, shows how much I know

Why isn’t this less complicated?!! Already so much to remember with small children, she’d worked herself into a flap trying to figure it out and it’s take both of us all afternoon to find out how to do the bloody thing.

If it is the additional 15 hours (to make 30 hours funding), then yes, you have to renew it every 3 months (or possibly 4). Not everyone seems to get an email reminder, so make a note of when you need to renew.

Another point to note is that he you want the funding from 1st January, it has to be in place by 31st December. If it's not, you will have to wait until 1st April to be able to use it.

I forgot to say, the renewal is online.

It isn't less complicated because they probably want fewer people to apply for government money!

I was told I have to reprovide the information every 3 months to prove I still qualify.

The first 15 hours - no because it’s universal to all.

The additional 15 hours- yes because it’s means tested.byouveill also have to sign the declaration held by the provider to confirm you’re claiming again. Literally one signature per term.

It’s hardly onerous! Less than 5 minutes per term for 30 hours funded care each week. Pretty good deal if you ask me!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat It depends on how different councils do their funding. Here it’s 3 long forms that need to be printed off and filled in, an online eligibility checker with corresponding documents, and a code to be given to nursery. If it was just a signature I wouldn’t have posted!

Yes all that just happens once though- the eligibility checker is with HMRC, it’s not borough dependent. The code stays the same and just needs to be ‘reconfirmed’.