Do i qualify for the 15 free hours?

[Teanocoffeethanks]

Hi. We dont qualify for 30 free hours childcare because my partner isn't PAYE but under CIS. Am i right in thinking that my 4yo should still qualify for 15 free hours until he starts school in September? Nursery have recalculated my sons fees due to an increase in daily fee but haven't included the 15 free hours as they have done so far. I'll speak to them anyway in morning but just want to check the 15 free hours validity. HMRC don't tell you how to apply for it.

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If you use the calculator on here it’ll tell you what you’re entitled to 😊

All 3 and 4 year olds get 15 hours free as far as I'm aware

All 3 & 4 year old qualify term from after 3rd bday until 5, but not all settings offer it.

He won’t get them over the summer holiday, will he? Isn’t it just term time? Maybe 5at explains their calculations.

Well the fee has jumped up about 300 quid, and we have been utilising the 15 free hours for the last year. I'm completely aware that it doesn't qualify for school holidays although he will be in nursery until end of Aug as its open all year round.

Its a massive increase so i dont think they've included the 15 free hours. Not sure why they haven't included it tbh! im now suspicious of HMRC,hate the f*ers.

15 hours is from your local authority, nothing to do with HMRC. Your local council might be able to help. You normally have to sign a form every term, or you do here

Did you reconfirm your details? I have to do it every 3 months

You only have to reconfirm if you are on the 15 hours extra (30 in total)
you don't need to for the standard 15 that every 3-4 year old in entitled to.

All you can do is ask the nursery for a breakdown in prices

As another poster said HMRC have nothing to do with it it's your council.

That's great. I feel slightly more reassured. I was 100% certain it was to do with HMRC. Thanks

As far as I am aware you are still eligible for 30 hours if your partner is self employed. You have to both be working a minimum of 16 hours per week and earn less than £100k to qualify. Best to check your eligibility in case you are entitled to more help although not all childcare providers offer the full 30 hours

Everyone get 15 funded hours for 3 and 4 year olds, from the term following their 3rd birthday until starting school. This is called the 'universal entitlement' and, as the government website childcarechoices.gov.uk explains, it is "for all families in England."

That said, there may be reasons why you don’t get it, for which you’ll need to speak with your childcare provider. They may have only a limited number of funded places on offer. Or they may be offering funded sessions at different times to those at which your child attends. Or you may have simply not completed and signed the claim form they require from each family.

NB. I used the word "funded" because, U.K. government newspeak notwithstanding, the childcare is not "free". It is subsidised: in part by families, who often have to pay additional charges, or higher fees for non-funded children. The childcare providers bear the heaviest burden: it is estimated they lose £1000pa for every funded child in their care.

The new daily fee may be higher in order to make up the huge short fall in the funding. Do you have a broken down bill? Might be wise to start with looking exactly what they’ve charged you for and seeing where the discrepancy lies