30 hours free childcare

[sockdraw]

I’m totally new to this and trying to work out if I can get it in time. Want to put daughter into nursery in June. If I apply now do you think I’ll get a code in time. If she only goes for 20 hours a week can I use the other 10 hours on a private child minder? Thanks all info would be welcomed. I can’t really work out what’s on the government website.

When is she 3?

Is she already 3? The hours kick in the term after they turn 3. You can split your hours between 2 providers and the code comes through really quickly. You have to reclaim it every 3 months so no need to do it too early. Also you only apply for the additional 15 hours, you get the first 15 as standard.

She’s just turned 4. We’re behind on all of this because of COVID. Not been doing nursery as had very high risk people in family.

Although she's 4, some nurseries may not be able to give you the funding now until September as you'll have missed the headcount by starting in June. Only some councils will let them backdate it, if they don't they'd effectively be paying for your child to be there, but could give you the option to pay until funding comes in.

Yes you can split your hours across 2 settings. So 30 hours x 38 weeks a year or 22 hours x all year round also

It's termly so you've missed out I'm afraid as the deadline was end of March.

For the summer term the code needs to be applied for before 31st March. I assume she's off to school in September now so she's missed out unfortunately.

Thanks everyone. I feared I may have missed it. I’m looking in to private school until she’s 5 as the school she’s been allocated is terrible and miles from where we’re moving to. I don’t fully get the March deadline. If I used the hours for a childminder they don’t operate on a term by term basis - or am I misunderstanding something?

The funding is termly, even though the setting may be open all year round. You don't get funding for the holidays. (When does she start school? If it's this September I doubt many places will take her on now, with only half a term to go. She will only just get settled and it will be time to leave)

Childminders (I am one) are open all year round but funding is provided and paid for on a termly basis. It's the government that set the parameters not the individual settings. The march deadline is for turning 3 and for applying for your code. The other term deadlines are 31st December and 31st August.

Thanks everyone again and Georgiethegoat that makes sense now. Sounds like I’ve missed it. The nursery I’m looking at has got spaces and will take her and she can stay on for next academic year. They don’t follow standard national curriculum so it seemed like a good choice until I can get her in to another school to start in Year 1 or midway through for reception. If I can’t get funding for this summer then I may still be able to for September onwards.