Can I claim for playschool fees on my tax credits?

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

I am paying for ds to attend playschool twice a week for 2 hours 45 mins a session.

It costs me £4.50 a session. After easter ds will be 3 so will be funded.
What I wondered is when I fill out my yearly child tax credit form, can I somehow 'claim' for the fact I have forked out for playschool?

Are you working ?

I work part time, 16hrs. Dh works full time.

if you are working i think you can.i did have leaflet about it,i'll see if i can find it

Thanks! Wasn't sure if there was a minimum on how much you earn etc.

Just wondered if it could be called 'child care' in their eyes.
It isn't a bad price, but I won't miss paying it.

Sorry x posting!

It isn't child care as such, I start work at 6am, dh drops him off and I pick him up from playschool. This allows me to do more hours at work, when he is off playschool I have to leave work earlier.

Sounds fine to me - I would put in in your claim. They only ask us how much our childcare costs per week and no more details. I have DD1 in 2 sessions of lunch club followed by a playgroup session and DD2 two days at nursery. All costs go down as childcare - doesn't matter as long as the playgroup is OFSTED registered which it must be in your case.

i don't think it counts, ours certainly didn't. may be different for your though. Ours was ofsted'ed but not counted as early years setting because of something to do with the toilets.

Thanks, they are registered with ofsted, so will try and claim then.

The toilets? [eh emotion]

I see what you mean about early years but mine can take pre school vouchers so must count. I find the tax credits staff very helpful so why not give them a ring?

i think to qualify for early setting status they needed small loo's. (had only adult loos)

Oh I see about the loo thing, playschool ds is at is linked to a junior school and has small loos.
When I renew my claim I will ask.

Yes that is my childcare for 3 days a week when I am working but the OP says that she goes from work to pick up her child so that implies that when she works the childcare is shared bewteen Dad and the playgroup to me.

Yes childcare for ds is at the moment between playschool and dh. I wonder how the hell tax credit office would know my work rota anyway? Or anyone elses for that matter.
Without playschool I couldn't work extra hours.

Try www.entitledto.com re tax credits. Alternatively get your employer to pay you some of youor salary as childcare vouchers and which are deducted from your salary before tax and NI.

I typed in my earnings etc and my childcare figures into the link, but not sure if it has made much difference! Will just tell them what I have paid over the year and hope they take it into consideration. Thanks for the help everyone!

just phone them and ask..they will tell you yay or nay on the phone

i think you have to be paying over a certain amount in childcare for them to rebate you IYKWIM so i dont think you will be paying enough! I told TC that i was paying £20 per week for after school care for DS but didnt get any help with it.

If it is ofsted registered and you working you should be able to

Did think that maybe I wouldn't be paying enough in fees to claim. It gets up my nose that although ds is 3 next week I still have to pay fees until after Easter.
I feel for people who have children born in may!