15hrs free to 30hrs - can't work out how to do it

[roxpop]

HI all going around in circles here.

I've had emails off .gov and off the childcare provider explaining that I need to apply for 30hrs free before 31/8. For the life of me I can't work out how to do this. I already have the child registered for the 15 hours free and already have a code on the childcare choices website. Nowhere can I find a route to extending this to 30 hours. Has anyone done this successfully or does it just happen automatically next time you reconfirm your details? I also have a Parental statement of undertaking form to fill in which gets sent to the local authority.

Has anyone managed to do this successfully and can they explain how?

Thanks

Hello I have exactly the same query, I cannot find out how to apply for 30 hours, am already on 15 hours. My nursery is adamant I have to reapply and give them a new code but cannot tell me how! There is nothing on my gov childcare portal. I have to give them the code before the end of June.

If you have a working family code for 15 hours for a two year old, the code will automatically entitle you to 30 hours from the term following the child's third birthday.
It will be the same code.
Just remember to reconfirm your details every 3 months for the code to remain valid.
You don't need to make any new application.

Providing you have a working family code it will be the same code.
They are wrong saying you will have to give a new code.

Google 30 hour free childcare (I'm not being funny, it's how I did it) and click on the gov.uk website. If you haven't already, you will need to create a government gateway account. Once you have done this you can go through the process to see if you're eligible. If you are, you'll get a code that you'll need to provide to your childcare provider. You'll have to reconfirm your eligibility every three months (I think) so you'll need to remember your gateway login details. They're not easy to remember so I whatsapped the login details to my husband so I could find them when I searched our chat. The gov.uk website usually reminds you to reconfirm. The school may contact you to remind you but it is the responsibility of the parents to remember this, it isn't the schools responsibility to remind you. If you don't reconfirm, you could lose the funding for the extra 15 hours so may not be able to leave your child at nursery for the amount of hours you need, or your provider may charge you for the extra hours.
Your provider will need to have the code before the 31st august for September starters, so if your provider is going to close over the summer (school nurseries, for example) you'll need to provide the code before they break up so that they can update their records.
Your government gateway account will also be where you apply for your tax free childcare.

Thanks for replying, however I know all this though it’s everything I use and do already already; government gateway/recinfirmation etc. The question is how to upgrade on the government gateway account from 15 to 30 hours if a new code is needed for 30 hours which my nursery says it’s a different code.

If you already have a code for 15 hours for 2 year olds then it’s the same code for 30 hours for 3 year olds. You don’t need to do anything other than keep reconfirming it every 3 months.

It's the same code. I've already submitted my children for September - as long as they have reconfirmed, it just switches.

Unless you have a 2 year old funding code for disadvantaged families issued by your local authority you will not need a new code for 30 hours.
Working family codes stay the same through all age groups and will entitle you to the relevant hours depending on the child's age.