30 hours free childcare

[grahamw2000]

Hi,
I am already in full time work and my partner is due to return full time on 14th October at which point our daughter would start nursery. It is not clear (from government website) if we can apply now and be eligible for free childcare from the 30th September term or would we not receive funding until term starting 1st January? The information on https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/30-hours-childcare-support/working-families/eligibility seems to suggest we would be eligible for 30th September term as I am already in work and partner returning within one month of term starting but I'm really not sure. Bit worried tbh as not sure how I am going to fund it all in the meantime otherwise!

Does anyone have any experience on this that can comment please? If so that would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Graham

January I believe.

It’s the term after they turn 9m old so if your baby was to turn 9m old between now and 31st August, if eligible you could have 30hrs from 1st September. If your child turns 9m old between 1st September-31st December, your 30hrs would start in the January term.

Thanks for the responses. Baby turns 9 months on 21st July so no issue with that. So if I could convince my partner to go back on 30th September then we could access entitlement from 1st September then? It is all so confusing and when I rang them they said we would be eligible for September term but it would go as pending. Was not convinced by their response though. Going to be very costly for us if we cant access until Jan!

It also states

If one parent is starting or returning to work within one month of the start of term (that is, 30 September, 31 January or 30 April), while the other parent remains on parental leave until a later date, then you would be eligible to apply.

So that would suggest we could access the entitlement from September?

Those are the one month deadlines not the start of term dates. The start of terms are 1st September; 1st January and 1st April.

Thanks for responses all. Spoke to her this morning and turns out her return date is 29th Sept (then using two weeks holiday) so looks like we will actually be fine in the end to apply for the September term

Just make sure your eligibility code is with the nursery before 31st August otherwise you may miss the deadline for September.

Thanks for that tip, I have run through the application and it has pended so I believe they should send it out in a couple of weeks. If they haven't I will ring and chase

Its because you're outside of the 31 days before return to work. They can issue a temporary code which might be prudent of you to ask for considering your tight time frame.

OK thanks for the tip I will give them a ring and ask for a temporary code. They really dont make the process easy. I cant apply until 30 days before partner goes back to work and I have to give nursery code by end of August at latest.

Also 30th and 31st are weekend days so makes deadline even tighter as nursery won't be open on those days to give the code too. I'll definitely be asking for a temporary code!

Has your partner accrued holiday pay? If so they can say they are returning to work and be on holiday.

Yeah sorry that's basically what she is doing, returning on 29th Sept and then using accrued holiday. As per posts above the deadline looks very tight though!

This is her return date! Not October 14th.

Hi @grahamw2000 this does come up a lot and you're definitely not the only one finding the eligibility info confusing. We’re running a Q&A at the moment with an Early Years leader in partnership with the Department for Education - might be worth popping your question there too, or reading through as others are asking about exactly this sort of situation. We also have a general discussion thread here where Mumsnet users are sharing their experiences.
Hope that helps, and fingers crossed it all works out smoothly for you!

Thank you Becky I have popped my question in there. The whole situation is just so confusing and it is unclear what will happen with my pended application and when I will receive a code (hopefully in plenty of time before 1st September term but not holding my breath)

I spoke to HMRC again today and got clarity on my application (spoke to someone that was very helpful).They are going to send me a temporary code to give to the nursery but they have said I will need to go back in and submit an application for the permanent code before end of August. Apparently earliest I can make that application 29th August so as long as I have made the application by end of August it will be fine. They confirmed that nursery can be given the code in September it just that I needed to have made the application prior to end of August.