Please help me understand free childcare!

[LuckyMoonstone]

I don’t know how it works, so would appreciate any help, here is my situation.

DS is 3 in December, he is already at nursery. I have a childcare account that I pay into for the government top up, then pay his nursery through that. My account says nothing yet about whether DS will get 15 or 30 hours free at nursery when he turns 3. When does this get worked out and how?
Is it when you reconfirm your details every 3 months? If so, will it be when he is already 3 or just before? The next time I have to reconfirm details is May. So the next one would be August, then November, then Feb. Which application brings up the free childcare? And then does it start right from the application or the next term? Are nursery terms the same as school terms? DS doesn’t do terms, he goes all year round.

Would really appreciate someone helping me get my head around it!

Under the current system every child is entitled to 15 hours universal childcare. This can be used with a school nursery, private day nursery or childminder.
A further 15 hours of extended funding are available to children of working parents.
If your child isn't 3 until December then the funding will kick in in January 2024.
The funding is only available for 37 weeks of the year - term time only. However some providers will 'stretch' the funding across the whole year ie a private day nursery or a childminder.

But when do I find out about this entitlement and become able to apply? I can’t find anything online, it just keeps redirecting me back to my childcare account

There is a cap to the 30 hours. You aren’t entitled if either parent earns over 100k. The nursery gets the funding straight from the council. They will give you a form and they apply (at least that’s what happened to us). You can only opt in at certain points throughout the year

I think you use this account if I remember rightly and it generates a code which you give to your nursery. Funding starts term after child is 3.

www.gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare

Depends on the provider how they apply it I think. If nursery is open all year they may stretch it so you use 20 hours a week or whatever.

I seem to remember when DD was that age that the information became available when she turned 3. At the moment it isn't telling you anything because it's too early.

If you look on the Gov website it will tell you the qualifying criteria (predominantly income) so you can check if you qualify.

I applied in the October before the hours started in January, you fill in your details online then it gives you a coad to pass on to the nursery. You can look up the criteria and have a good idea if you are likely to qualify beforehand. From memory, both parents (or 1 if single) need to be working at least 15 hours and earning less then £100k. Some people who don't meet the work criteria but get certain benefits like carers allowance also qualify.

It's not linked to your tax free childcare account so nothing will show there. They are completely different things. You need to get the funding form from your nursery and then ask them how they apply the funded hours, there are different ways to do it

You need to complete the form and get it to your nursery in December so they can claim the funding from January

It’s the term after they turn 3, so for a late April / May baby, you’ll be eligible in September.

I recall getting a code which I gave to nursery and they adjusted my bills after that to take off the funding (it’s really not free!)

www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare

Info is all here

You can apply x amount of weeks before they turn 3

It's the same website as the tax free childcare one

You'll get given a code and you give that to your childcare provider and then they do the rest

You have to reconfirm every 3 months same way as TF

@seathewayahead that is the link I keep following and all it does is take me to my childcare account, where it says nothing about applying.

@justpoppingtotheshops so in the run up to DS turning 3, will I get the option to apply for the free hours on my childcare account? Or will it be when I do the reconfirmation some time around then I.e November?

I’m sorry if I’m coming across really stupid but I have honestly looked at this so much online and cannot get straight answers about when and how to apply

@mummy3today I have searched all over the government website and never seen that page with all of that info! Thank you that has made some things clearer

That's because it's too early to apply yet. You can apply in September. In the meantime you can Google it or visit the HMRC website to see if you meet the current eligibility requirements.

You can apply the term before they turn 3. The option to apply will appear in your childcare account. It wasn't easy to figure out though so don't leave it till the last minute but if you do it early, also remember to reconfirm every three months otherwise the code won't work.

www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare

Sorry I couldn't attach the link for some reason.

No worries, glad it helped. You're best to speak to your nursery, they'll know the process inside out as they do it all the time so they'll be able to give you all the info and a timeline. But if he's not 3 till December you have plenty of time to sort it

Thank you all, I get it out now! Honestly that gov website is a maze sometimes

It tells you on this page when you apply, it says recommended when the child is 2 yr 36 weeks.
www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare
It also has a link to apply, but as you're too early I assume it won't work yet.

Because you're about 6 months too early!

I know it’s still really early, but I’ve got a baby due in September so I’m trying to get a grasp on potential childcare costs over the next few years. And when I start thinking about something I can’t rest until I’ve got a plan!

Cheers all 👍

The other thing to bear in mind is that your nursery may still charge you up a top up fee as government funding doesn't cover costs.
I used to get 24 hours free a week stretched over 47 weeks a year. I had to pay 1.25 per hour to top up the funding.

I'm based in Scotland but my nursery deducts the free hours from our invoice first op and then you just need to put the remaining amount into the government account (minus your tax cost) :)

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy I thought it might work something like that, DS currently does 16 hours a week so I’ll still have a bit to top up