1. 30 Hour Free Childcare Application Information
June 2017
Andrea Laverick
Early Years Education and Information Services Manager

2.
The government is introducing new ways to help working parents with childcare costs. 
Any of the following slides can be printed and used to advise parents.
March 2017 received Early Education and Childcare statutory guidance followed by Operational Guidance in April 2017.
Further operational guidance is expected in July 2017

3. Tax-Free Childcare (Under 12)
For working families (including people who are self-employed), in the UK who have children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled)
For every £8 parents pay, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child
Parents of children who will be under 4 on 31st August, and parents of disabled children, can apply now
Claimed on the same application as 30 hours via HMRC if required – introduced on 1st April 2017
If you apply for Tax-Free Childcare, you won't be able to get:
•Child Tax Credit
•Working Tax Credit
•Universal Credit
•childcare vouchers from your employer
Use Tax-Free Childcare account to pay a childcare provider,
Covers:
childcare with regulated (approved or registered) childcare providers, for example, nurseries, play scheme, registered childminders or out-of-hours school clubs
advance payments, block bookings and individual sessions
the costs of employing a nanny or extra childcare if using a workplace nursery
Handout titled Parent Journey

4. 30 hours free childcare
For working families with 3 and 4 year old children
An extra 15 hours a week of free childcare; so 30 in all!
Parents of children who will be 3 on or before 31st August must apply now:
MUST APPLY NOW for a child starting nursery on 1st September or will not receive funding until the term starting in January 2018
An additional 570 free hours a year over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year
This equates to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. Children may stretch their entitlement and take fewer hours per week over up to 52 weeks of the year subject to a maximum of 570 hours a year.
Children who have are in reception class are not entitled to any additional free hours

5. 30 Hours Free Childcare For 3 and 4 year olds From September 2017
Who Is Eligible?
If two parent household both parents must earn equivalent of 16 hours at minimum wage Earning cap of £100k per individual
If lone parent household parent must earn equivalent of 16 hours at minimum wage Earning cap of £100k per individual
If one parent is temporarily on parental, maternity or adoption leave or on statutory sick pay.
If one parent is employed, and the other has substantial caring responsibilities or is disabled or incapacitated (based on specific benefits)
Minimum Wage Hourly Rates (April 2017) 25 or over £ yrs £ yrs £5.60 Under 18 yrs £4.05
This is the eligibility criteria including minimum wage details
the parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the free childcare to enable them to work;
• the parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) each parent or the single parent in a lone parent household will need to expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage or their national minimum wage rate over the forthcoming quarter;
• where one or both parents are in receipt of benefits in connection with sickness or parenting, they are treated as though they are in paid work;
• where one parent (in a couple household) is in receipt or could be entitled to be in receipt of specific benefits related to caring, incapacity for work or limited capability for work that they are treated as though they are in paid work;
• where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’ (i.e. they are newly self-employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months in order to qualify for the extended entitlement.
• if either or both parents’ income exceeds £100,000 they will not be eligible for the extended entitlement.
The relevant dates in relation to the age criterion are the same as for the three-year-olds eligible for 15 hours of free provision

6. An 11 digit code will be issued by HMRC
Application Process
An 11 digit code will be issued by HMRC
Parent takes the code to their preferred childcare provider with:
National insurance number
Child’s date of birth
The childcare provider will validate the code and a start date can be agreed
Authorisation form

7. Additional Application Support
Telephone childcare service customer interaction centre on:
For queries or if parents do not have access to the internet or need support to apply.
If an application is made by phone any subsequent enquires/eligibility checks need to be made by phone

8. Further Eligibility Checks
Parents will be prompted every three months to confirm their details are the same
Reminders will be sent by text message or
If the deadline to confirm their details is missed they will receive a letter telling them eligibility has ceased.

9. Disability Access Fund
To enable children with special educational needs and disability to access free childcare places
Children aged 3 and 4
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) must be awarded for the child
Annual fixed rate of £615.00
Distributing DAF funding to early years providers – 3&4 year olds
Local authorities must fund all early years settings providing a place for each child eligible for the DAF in their area at the fixed annual rate of £615 per eligible child.
The DAF should not be offset against any other funding which an authority may ordinarily be providing for children eligible for the DAF.
Payable as a lump sum once a year per eligible child. If a child eligible for the DAF is splitting their free entitlement across two or more providers, authorities should ask parents to nominate the main setting. This setting will be where local authorities should pay the DAF for the child.
If a child receiving DAF moves from one setting to another within a financial year, the new setting is not eligible to receive DAF funding for this child within the same financial year. DAF funding received by the original setting will not be recouped.
In cases where a child who lives in one authority area attends a provider in a different local authority, the provider’s local authority is responsible for funding the DAF for the child and eligibility checking.
All early years providers who are eligible to receive funding for the 3- and 4-year-old early entitlement education are also eligible to receive the DAF.

10. Resources
Childcare Calculator for parents to calculate childcare options before starting the claim process:
Resources for early years and childcare providers including useful briefings, guidance and slides from events and training.
Parents can use Childcare Calculator to work out if they will be better off with Tax-Free Childcare, before stopping tax credits, Universal Credit child vouchers.
30 second weekly update
Hand out step by step guide created by FIS

11. Good Practice Examples
Caroline Farrier business manager from St Josephs has sent a questionnaire to parents 2 and 3 year olds.
Had a good response and were able to provisionally identify interest to prepare staffing for academic year 2017/18
Next stage is to send out leaflets to all relevant parents encouraging them to register as soon as possible, before the end of the Summer term so they will qualify for the beginning of Autumn term.
Louise Harvey from Wilton Primary School has developed an information leaflet for parents.
Sharon Robertson head teacher from Errington Primary School has set up a 30 hour provision group for local schools, PVI’s and childminders.
Errington have an open evening planned for 6th July – parents will be invited to discuss their requirements and make links. Errington plan to have a childminders information board in reception.

12. Contact Families Information Service on Freephone: 0800 073 8800
For more information
Contact Families Information Service on Freephone:
Details are available on People’s Information Network:
Hand out 30 hours FAQ’s