Childcare for 5yr old.

[HedgeHogFoxBadger]

Hi so my 5 yr old started school in September. She was getting 30 hours childcare.
I only now need 1 hour each morning and have found a childminder. I understand I can claim a percentage back? If I decided to send her for an afternoon a week after school but I am at home/ working from home can I still claim?
Thanks

Yes you can, they don't check the hours you work against the ones you claim

I’m a bit confused. What are you wanting to claim for? Your child got 30 hours childcare from the term after her third birthday. From the September after they are 4, they get a place in a school which replaces the 30 hours.

You don’t normally get free childcare once your child is in school.

@Maryann1975 op means tax credit/UC contributions towards childcare I assume

If you're looking for a tax credit contribution then it depends on your income.

We are relatively low earners and aren't entitled to any help but when we were both parents needed to be workin over 16 hours for the childcare element. Not sure if it's changed though.

Once they are in school, you don't get the 30 hours free anymore but I think you're talking about tax free childcare where you get 20% towards the costs? You can claim that as long as you earn at least £131 a week

Thank you. Yes I understand I don’t get 30 hours childcare now because she is in school but wondered if I would get any help towards childcare with a childminder

Look here

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Yes, you can open a tax free childcare account and they will pay 20% of what you pay in, into that account to pay the childminder. So if you're, for example, putting your child to the child minder 7 hours a week (1 hour before school each day and 2 hours after school one day) and the childminder is charging £6 an hour, the cost will be £42 a week. So you pay in £33.60 and they will pay in £8.40 then you pay the childminder from that tax free account. Over the year you'd save over £400 on childcare costs