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)

What's this got to do with funded childcare?

Ok, I am a bit bamboozled so hope this makes sense!

Regarding the cut off date being Sept to return to work after maternity in order to get the funded hours Sept onwards:

If I return to work end of Sept but am using my annual leave, then actually physically going into work after my AL in October for example, does that mean I will only be able to get funded hours from January? Or does the AL in Sept count, because technically my maternity leave will end on Sept 28th?

If so, would there be anything stopping me going into work end Sept then using my AL in a block a week later say?

Hi can anyone help ya see 4 weeks ago I lost my 28yr old son and I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I can't talk about him see his picture anything it hurts so much I just want to die to be with him. How am I supposed to go on. Will I ever have a day that I don't want to die so I can be with him

@SarahWalkerEY - not sure if this has been corrected already, but:

Tax free childcare is available until the term after a child turns 12, or until they turn 17 if they’re disabled.

I appreciate the time and efforts the two contributors have made but to call them experts to answer the Q and As on funding is a stretch. They've done well but a teacher and a parent using funding won't know all the nuances of the system and I wouldn't expect them to.

Hi everyone,

I’m Marwa, and I’m moving to the UK this September with my three children aged 11, 10, and 6. We’ll be living in York, and I’m currently looking into school options for them.

I’d really appreciate if anyone could advise me on:

1. What curriculum is taught in UK state schools at Key Stage 1, 2, and 3 levels?
2. What are the best schools in the York area that you’d recommend?
3. Are there any helpful resources or documents I can access now so my children can start getting familiar with the UK curriculum before the school year begins?

Any help with school names, admission tips, or links to curriculum resources would mean a lot. Also, if anyone knows what documents or books I might need to help them catch up or get prepared, please let me know.

Thanks so much in advance for your support!

Best,
Marwa

Hi,
My daughter will turn 9 months in October, so I will be eligible on the 1st Jan 26. I’m not due to return to work until 31st Jan, however I saw that I need to return within 30 days to be eligible? Which is fine, say I will now return to work on 28th. But I wanted to know if she can attend the 30 free hours from 1st Jan, even if I’m not back in employment until 28th. I would really love to use the time to do a phased transition into nursery rather than straight into the full days when I’m back to work.
TIA

Yes that's fine you'll get the full allocation for that term.

I’m a student and getting childcare amounts from nhs paid to my account

can I use this 30h ?

Only if you're working and earning £195/ week as well (and partner if relevant).

Hi,

I’m thinking about having children in the next 2 years but am worried about how I will be able to continue working with children as my husband is also working full time and is epileptic. Financially it won’t be an option for either of us to reduce our hours. We don’t really live close by to relatives either and although my husband can work from home, we don’t feel safe leaving a young child with him alone due to my husbands epilepsy. This is something that really stresses me out as I don’t know what sorts of childcare options are out there .. especially for disabled parents who may need some extra child care support even though they are working. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and reassuring as these sorts of worries keep me up at night :( xx

My baby turns 9 months in October. When would we be able to start using the funded hours, and can I apply before then?

January assuming you return to work on or before 31st January. Code needs to be applied for no later than 31st December.

Hi my little boy has turned 9mnth in July but will be 1 in October. I've taken the year off from work. However I can't access the 9mnth funding till January only if I return to work by 30th September. I have been doing some keeping in touch days. Does this count as returning to work? I don't want to cut my time short and miss out on this precious time. equally I don't want to pay 600.00 quid for the 3 months I will need the finding compared to someone's baby born in Dec. Please advise?

Hi @RubyFlewToo - thank you for flagging this!

You're absolutely right. If eligible, you can receive Tax-Free Childcare for your child until 1 September after their 11th birthday, or until 1 September after their 16th birthday if they are disabled.

Thanks again for helping us keep things accurate - much appreciated.

I'm still trying to conceive so i'll get back to you x

Hi
I start back at work in February ( mid way through term) how does the funding work.
The nursery said my child can have the funding 1 month before I start back at work but looking online you cant. Can anyone help me with this please?

Hi,
My daughter is born in Uk, and she is one year old this July. Since either parents have not got ILR, we are in skilled worker visa with no access to public fund. We are both working parents. My daughter is on dependent visa.

is she eligible for funding?

Thanks

You have to be back at work by 31st January for funding in the spring term. Otherwise you'll need to wait until after Easter/summer term

That sounds like a really frustrating situation, and I’m sorry you've been given conflicting advice @Anonymouse2019.

Just to clarify: all 3- and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare a week. The full 30 hours is only available to eligible working families — so if you're not currently working due to caring responsibilities or health reasons, you wouldn't meet the criteria for the extended offer, unless your partner is in work and you receive one of the following:

• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Limited Capability for Work Benefit
• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

The changes to childcare funding have been rolled out gradually, but it’s not the case that all children over 9 months will automatically get 30 hours from September.

It might be worth checking if you’re eligible for Universal Credit Childcare support, which can help cover up to 85% of childcare costs needed to help parents work. You can find more info at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Hi @sharond101! Yes, there can be some flexibility, but it depends on the childcare provider.

The funded hours can be used across different days and times, including weekends in some cases, as long as the provider is registered to offer funded places and agrees to the pattern. Some settings offer stretched funding across the whole year rather than term time only, and some allow you to split hours between two providers.

It’s always worth speaking directly with your provider about what they can offer, as availability and flexibility can vary depending on staffing and demand.

Hi @namenomnombre. Funded hours usually cover term time only, usually 30 hours per week over 38 weeks a year. Some providers stretch funding across the full year, including holidays - it’s best to check with your nursery for how they handle this.

As many providers are closed on Bank Holidays, you're best speaking to your nursery to check how this might affect your funded hours.

For the 30 hours funded childcare, both parents usually need to be working to qualify, unless one parent is working and the other is in reciept of certain benefits. So you may still be eligible if you recieve:

• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Limited Capability for Work Benefit
• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

This means you may still be eligible if your partner meets the minimum income requirements. However, it's also worth saying that your son can still get the universal 15 hours funded childcare from the term after he turns 3, no matter your work status.

It’s worth checking with your local council or family services for extra support options that might help with your situation.

Hope that helps @OchreBird.

It’s completely normal for your childminder to ask for your partner’s National Insurance number when using the 30 hours funded childcare code. This is needed to confirm eligibility with the government.

As for your child’s NHS number, it’s less commonly requested but some settings might ask for it to help with their records or official checks. If you’re unsure, it's okay to double check with your childminder why they need this information, or you can contact your local authority for clarification on why your childminder might need your child's NHS number.

Hope that helps @Ccg123

Thanks for your question @Anonymous4422 - this is a really common situation and you're not alone in feeling the pressure when working hours and workloads don’t quite match.

Yes, you can still be eligible for both funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare if you move to contract work - as long as you (and your partner) each earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at minimum wage on average over the next 3 months.

Gaps between contracts can affect your eligibility if your income temporarily drops below that threshold. But once you’re working again and earning enough, you can reapply. There’s also some flexibility if you’re newly self-employed or just starting out.

Your husband’s full-time work helps too, as both parents need to meet the criteria (unless one is earning and the other is receiving certain benefits).