Ask us anything about funded childcare - eligibility, applying, and what to expect £100 voucher to be won!

[LibbyMumsnet]

From September, eligible working parents in England with children aged 9 months to school age will be able to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week - part of the government’s expanded childcare offer in England.

We know that for many parents, it’s not always straightforward. You might be wondering:
– Am I eligible?
– How do I apply – and what’s the deadline?
– What will funded hours actually look like in practice?
– How do I feel about sending my child to nursery or a childminder?

This Q&A is here to help. Whether you’re after clear, practical info about the funding or want a better sense of what formal childcare is really like, post your question below and we’ll do our best to get it answered.

No question is too small – if it’s on your mind, chances are it’s on someone else’s too.
We’ve brought together two brilliant experts to support this discussion:
👩‍💼 Sarah Walker, an experienced Early Years teacher, who can answer any questions about formal childcare
👩‍👧 Tina Williams, Head of Editorial at Mumsnet and a parent currently using funded hours, who’ll be sharing her real-life experience

They’ll be answering questions weekly throughout July and August in the lead-up to the 31st August application deadline.

💬 Ask your question below by 31st August and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 VEX gift voucher (T&C’s apply)

Would this be for your own child or your mindees? I'm a childminder so happy to help. You can't claim funding for your own child attending your setting but they can attend another childminder's. If claiming for mindees, you will just enter the hours your are claiming on the portal for your LA and the parents will sign a declaration form with you detailing what hours they are spending where.

Thank you- that's very helpful. I was thinking in relation to mindees. That's good that it seems relatively simple- I've read accounts about how one setting could potentially claim all the hours so it's great they can be fairly shared. 😊

Well, you'll find some settings will break the rules and tell parents they won't share funding but honestly I would report them for that because it's not allowed. Parents must be able to choose.

Deleted as posted on a thread

my phone is playing silly buggers! It was meant to be a new post! Apologies - can someone report it please to get it deleted

Hi @DRose3 - thanks for your question. As part of the major childcare expansion plan, the government has invested extra money to help more parents balance their family life and their work life.
That extra investment is to cover the core costs of providing childcare over those 15 or 30 hours - and takes into account things like inflation and average earnings. It doesn't cover the cost of things like additional hours, food and other consumables, or extra activities, so you may still be asked to pay for those. You can use other support like Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit to help with extra costs.

What rules around additional fees are there? Some nurseries seem to charge almost as much in addition costs as a regular place would cost! Eg nappies, lunch, snacks

Ok, I have a complicated one-

So current situation-
Partner has just graduated, currently working bank agency work with universal credit top up as only a couple of shifts a week. I am on maternity leave.

I am due to go back to work end Sept and he has a new permanent band 5 full time job- the references, OH, DBS is still going through, so he may or may not start the new job by end Sept, but it likely to.

I have applied for the funding with the view that he will begin by then. Will that be ok even if he doesn't as he is still currently employed (maybe not earning the required amount atm)? If not and we don't end up being eligible over the 3 months, what will happen?

Is it available all year or restricted to term time

Sorry would still advise you await an official reply but this is dependent on the nursery - it’s technically for 38 weeks but some stretch it, for instance mine stretches it so I can use it over 50 weeks.

My son misses out on the funding until January by three days! But I need to go back to work so I’m forced to pay the exorbitant fees until January - does the scheme consider a leeway for such a close date to the cut off or am I unfortunately going to have to wait until January to start digging myself out of debt?

Hi,

I’m wondering if anyone can advise please.
I paid the amount into my childcare account when I got paid on 15th August and then set up a standing order to pay the child minder out of the tax free childcare account on 1st September.
The government top up was paid in straight away on 15th. I’ve checked the account today to check the money is there to go to the child minder and it’s only showing the government top up now. The child minder hasn’t received any money yet so does anyone know where the money has gone? Is it sent a couple of days beforehand and just isn’t showing as an outgoing transaction yet?
Hope that makes sense.
Thanks
Hannah

There is no leeway unfortunately, the deadlines are hard and fast. My daughter missed the cutoff by a day, not even a full day but by less than an hour. There will always be children who just miss out, whether there was leeway or not.

I’m confused about when to apply. I heard I have to do it months in advance but I find the website a bit confusing. My baby will be 1 end of December, she will be starting nursery in January when I go back to work. What date will she be eligible for funded hours and how do I apply?

You need to apply by 31st December on the childcare choices website.

Is everyone eligible for this and what if my circumstances change at any time?

No, only if you're working are you eligible.

Why would you need it otherwise?

are you eligible for childcare for teenagers

I’d advise waiting for an official reply but I’d have thought it would fall into the next window so your deadline would be the 31st of December if your baby turned 9 months between 1st Sep and 31st of December, and you’re returning to work before the 31st of January

Hi @ru53 - If you are applying for your oldest child (who is under school age), you can apply as normal for 30 hours.

If you want to claim 30 hours for the child you are currently on maternity leave with, the date you are eligible for this entitlement will depend on when your child turns 9 months old and the date you start work. It may be helpful to explain that the entitlements operate on a termly basis, so children become eligible for an early education and childcare place from 1 Sept, 1 Jan or 1 April, the term after they reach the relevant age and relevant eligibility criteria are met. Hope that helps.

Hi @Pickledraspberries! If you are on shared parental leave for the child you’re applying for, you can apply for the working parent entitlement if both parents have either returned to work or have a return to work date within one month of the start of the autumn, spring or summer term. If your return to work date is the end of October, you can apply from the 1 September to access your entitlement for the January term, subject to your partner working or having a return to work date by the 31st January. You can find more information about application dates on the Best Start in life website: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education/15-and-30-hours-support/working-families/how-to-apply

Hi @monika88,

The date your child turns 9 months old will affect when you can take up the childcare. The entitlements work on a termly system, so you can access the entitlements, subject to meeting relevant eligibility criteria, the term after your child turns 9 months old. If you are on parental leave, the date that you return to work from parental leave will affect when you can take your 30 hours.

You can find more information about application dates on the Best Start in life website: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education/15-and-30-hours-support/working-families/how-to-apply

Hi @Lab92 – eligibility for 30 hours is based on expected income over the next 3 months, not the previous tax year. You need to be in paid work (including self-employment) and earn (or expect to be earning) at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage) and up to a maximum of £100,000 adjusted net income per parent per year.

@Firsttimemummy29 - Eligible working parents can get 30 hours from the term after their baby turns nine months old. The date that you return to work from parental leave will affect when you can take up 30 hours. As you are returning to work on the 2 December, you can apply from the term beginning 1 September and if eligible, start claiming the entitlement from the term beginning 1st January 2026. You can also use Tax-Free Childcare alongside this which you can apply for at any point. The government tops up what you pay in by 20% and it can be used for nurseries, childminders and wraparound care.

It may be helpful to explain that the entitlements operate on a termly basis, so children become eligible for an early education and childcare place from 1 Sept, 1 Jan or 1 April, the term after they reach the relevant age and relevant eligibility criteria are met.

You can find more information about how a parent’s return to work date affects when they can take up the entitlement on the Best Start in Life website: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education/15-and-30-hours-support/working-families/how-to-apply