Childcare Funding... HELP!
Show your support
So when the 15 hours for everyone started it was from a certain date. But I know the for the 30 hours, it starts from the term after their third birthday, so it might be similar rule with the 15 hours x
I'm really confused. I started work in August but my parents were looking after LO. Now she's a bit older, I want her to attend nursery for a few days. So why can I only apply for the hours in January? I don't get it.
When did you apply for the free funding? I think that’s the second part of it - when you go back but then also when you apply for the funding?
Did you have your code? As you have to re apply for a code every 3 months? Next time is in jan.
I technically started work in July 2024, applied on 20th October 2024 and have a code.
If you wanted to use now you had to apply in July. If you only apply for the code in October you can only use it from January, the nursery is correct.
You have to apply for the code the previous term to get the funding. So you apply by 31st Aug to get funding for Sept-end of Dec, then apply by 31st Dec to receive funding for Jan-end of March for term starting April. As you applied in Oct, it's correct your funding will start in January 😊 (its not about when you start work - although you do need to be working or be working again within 30 days of applying, it's when you apply for the code)
In our area this would be right. Either starts September or next term in January etc so if you’re starting now it would indeed be January x
Can I apply, even if I won't use them instantly, just incase I decide to put her in a nursery?
They work in terms so if you apply now in October this is the winter term so the funding ( which takes a while to get accepted anyway) will start from January which is the following term. I think it’s to allow some grace period for both HRMC but also the nurseries so they can do all their paperwork to actually receive the money all at once. If they had people starting varied times, I can imagine it would be a lot of hard work and admin for them
That’s correct. You apply for it in terms. You would have needed to apply for it by the end of august for it to be effective for term 1 (Sept -dec). Applications for term 2 is between ( Sept to Dec) effective for jan. Pretty much like school terms.
I’m guessing it’s because you have to apply in advance - can’t remember when the cut off point was for the Autumn Term. So if you applied for the hours recently, it’ll be for next term.