15 hour free funding

[user1479764571]

I am a grandparent currently undergoing fostering assessments. My husband and I both work, but we have two days off each week during where we take our grandchild in nursery care. Unfortunately, we are unable to apply for the 15-hour funding available for nursery costs as grandparents, and social services cannot approve the funding for the necessary code since we are not yet recognized as official foster carers. HMRC has informed us that our situation does not align with any of their existing categories.
HMRC also advised that in cases like ours, social services should fund the nursery placements. However, we have encountered difficulties with this approach as some nurseries have refused admission under this arrangement, citing unpaid invoices from the local authority. I am concerned that if we pursued this route, the nursery may not allow us to remain due to these outstanding debts.
Do you have any advice on how we might proceed?

Unfortunately social services are notoriously bad/slow payers which doesn't work for a lot of childcare settings.
Are you able to pay the nursery upfront and then get social services to reimburse you?

Look like that’s what I’ll have to do however I won’t hold my breath that I will get it back anytime soon.

Have you spoken to your social/family worker assuming one is involved ? It seems it might be possible to get a code via local authority

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-03/30%20Hours%20for%20Foster%20Parents.pdf

The local authority won’t give me a code until we become official foster carers and we are still going through the assessment process.

Sorry misunderstood so frustrating for you

i take it the targeted funding route has been checked as well as some of that eligibility relates more to the child and not the carer - for example if they have been under the care of the la (even if just 1 day)

I would ask the social worker assigned to your case. I know a lady at our church who is an emergency foster carer and the children she currently fosters attend a day nursery. She did have to select a nursery from a list from social services (she said something about how those nurseries have taken SS placements before).

Thanks for the great advice.