Self-employment and 30 hrs childcare

[SecondhandTable]

Wasn't sure where to put this thread.

My mat leave ends later in the year and I am not confident that I am going to be able to agree a feasible flexible working pattern with my employer, so I may ultimately need to resign. I'm considering all my options and considering self-employment in terms of doing various types of work on freelance bases e.g. copywriting, or tutoring, etc. I understand in the first 12 months of being self-employed you can still access 30 hrs free childcare without any minimum profit requirement. Has anyone done this before, how do I go about doing it? I know I would need to register as self-employed, how do I do that? I can only find info about registering as a sole trader, is that applicable for people who do e.g. tutoring or copywriting or any other kind of work on a freelance, self-employed basis? I know I will obviously also need to register and complete self-assessment tax returns too. I'm weighing up all my options at the moment and very confused so please be gentle!

My husband is self employed in his first year and they still asked that he would take home at least 16 hours a week at minimum wage. It's not a huge amount and it's am average so more one week, less the next is fine. You do know though you don't get 30 hours free until they are 3 years old?

Yes, a tutor etc would be a sole trader.

That's not correct information, if you look at the gov.uk webpages it says in many places the earnings threshold does not apply to self-employed people in their first year of self-employment. I suppose it's to support new ventures.

I do know about age, sorry I can see my post was perhaps confusing on that score - this is my second mat leave, my eldest is already in receipt of the 30 hours but I may have to leave this job.

Yes in the first year of earnings there is no threshold to reflect getting a business off the ground I would say after that there is a minimum level you need to earn to qualify

We were definitely told he had to meet the minimum income level. Seems they don't know their own rules! I will have a look at the website, thank you. It doesn't really matter for us anyway. Good luck with the self employment, it's such a juggle managing childcare but hopefully it will make things a little easier for you if you're able to set your own hours.

You need to say you will be earning within the thresholds but don't have to provide any proof or books for first 12 months.

@ToiletGambles that’s not true for 30 free hours. They or you must be confused with UC childcare.

After the grace period you need to earn the equivalent of minimum wage for 16 hours a week to qualify. You would also qualify for a tax free childcare account.