To be completely confused about the 15 hours childcare

[miniaga]

My dd will be two in July and I was told I could apply for the 15 hours of childcare for two year olds in April for her.

I’m single and I currently work 16 hours a week and receive working tax credits and child tax credits. I have 70% of my childcare paid by tax credits currently.

According to the criteria she will be eligible for 15 hours free childcare (I’m in receipt of the above tax credits and earn less than £16k per year) but would this replace the proportion of childcare that is already being paid for?

In other words, could I get the 15 hours free and anything over that continue to get 70% of that paid for? She currently has 25 hours a week of childcare (two ten hour days on the days I work and a half day which I use to study) so if I would no longer have help with the ten hours she needs in addition to the 15 paid hours I don’t think this would work out better?

I’m really confused!

If the nursery is open all year around it won't be 15 hours by the way. It only covers term time so nurseries sometimes stretch it over the year - works out about 11.5 hours. I would have thought that you will still get 70% of the remaining hours paid

Yes you would just claim for the part you are paying for and give that cost to tax credits .

Ok thank you!

Yes you would get help with the extra hours on top of the free 15.