Help with returning to work

[mumofthreesmallmen3]

Hi was looking for some help with returning to work, I have 3 kids 2 school age and one who is in nursery for the next year for 3 hours a day. I've been trying to look online what help I could get with childcare and I cant seem to work it out! From what I've seen you pay after school care/childminder etc then can claim 20 percent of costs back? I am a single parent and not currently working but really wanting to start work again now they are going back to school. Do you pay first and claim back any help? Is there any extra help available in the holidays as that is when would probably cripple me to pay for 3 x holiday camps/childcare each day!
Thankyou for any help

You need to look up tax free childcare op. Are you getting universal credit?

I use the government childcare account, which is the standard I think.

It's pretty straightforward. You pay in money via debit card and it automatically gets topped up by 20% (there is a limit on the top up, but I think it's a couple of £k). They you pay your childcare bill from there.

Providing the childcare provider is registered with the childcare account people, then you can pay them. I used it for holiday Club over the summer, after school club, nursery etc.