July 2024
Childcare is one of the biggest costs facing working families today.
The Government want to make childcare more affordable and accessible to reduce the barriers that may be preventing some parents from working, so are expanding their childcare scheme to include more funded hours per week for more working families.
At the moment, eligible working parents can get:
- up to 15 hours a week if your child is 9 months to 2 years old
- up to 30 hours a week if your child is 3 to 4 years old
The aim is that, by September 2025, most working families will be entitled to 30 hours of government support with childcare costs from the start of the funding period after their child turns 9 months old until, they start school.
The changes are being introduced gradually, and we've put together this special edition of our newsletter to help you understand what support you might be eligible for.
We're also running some free online information sessions in July about how to access more early years funded childcare and other financial help. The details are at the bottom of this page.
 What are the changes to the funded childcare scheme?
Eligible working parents of children aged three and four -years -old can get up to 30 hours per week of funded childcare. Since April, eligible working parents of two-year-olds, and some parents that receive additional forms of government support, can also access up to 15 hours per week of funded childcare.
From September 2024 working parents of children aged from nine months will be able to access up to 15 hours per week of funded childcare. Applications are now open for eligible working parents whose child will be nine months old by Saturday 31 August 2024.
The aim is that, by September 2025, most working families will be entitled to up to 30 hours of government support with childcare costs from the start of the funding period after their child turns 9 months old, until they start school.
Who is eligible?
If you work and earn under £100,000 a year, but at least £183 a week (the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or Living Wage), you can apply for your government-funded childcare code via the childcare service website, which you then take to your chosen childcare provider to validate.
What if I'm not working at the moment?
If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
If you're starting a new job by the end of September 2024, can now apply for a childcare code 16 weeks before returning to work, extended from the original period of 31 days. Please apply online using the Government's website and you will receive a letter in the post within two weeks, enabling you to get your code well in advance of provider deadlines.
How do I apply?
You can apply for a code to get funded childcare on the Government's website.
There's a short video to guide you through the process.
You’ll need to set up a childcare account. It usually takes 20 minutes to apply. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to seven days.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code for funded childcare to give to your childcare provider.
The deadline for applications is Saturday 31 August 2024 to be able to access the funding from Sunday 1 September 2024. If you miss the deadline, you won’t be able to start using the new entitlements until the next funding period, which starts on Wednesday 1 January 2025.
When do I apply?
You need to apply the funding period before you want to take up a place. For example, if you want to take up a place for your child from September, you need to apply during the summer funding period (1 April to 31 August).
You can apply for:
- up to 15 hours funded childcare from when your child is 23 weeks old
- up to 30 hours funded childcare from when your child is 2 years and 36 weeks old
You must sign in to your childcare account to confirm your details are up to date every three months or your code will expire.
When can my child start?
Your child can begin to receive childcare funding from the start of the funding period after they turn nine months old.
Early Years funded childcare stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later).
How can I use my funded childcare?
Depending on your provider, your funded childcare hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer hours per week.
They can be used with one or more approved childcare provider, including day care settings such as nurseries and pre-schools, at childminders, sessional providers such as play groups and after school clubs. You can search for providers on our ‘Find Childcare in Devon’ website.
Will there be enough places?
Over 5,000 more children in Devon will benefit from funded childcare this year as a result of these changes, so there may be a shortage places in some areas. You can search for providers on our ‘Find Childcare in Devon’ website and contact your local setting for more information and to discuss your requirements.
To give providers more flexibility, the Government has increased the staff-to-child ratio so now one member of staff can look after five children. They're also increasing the hourly rate paid to childcare providers and are offering an incentive of up to £1,200 for people to become childminders.
You can find out more about the different job roles within early years, the qualifications and training available, such as the Government’s Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Scheme and where the latest job vacancies are, on our website.
What if my child has additional needs?
Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) should be included and educated, with support where required, alongside their peers. You can find out about the range of support and opportunities in the Devon SEND Local Offer.
All childcare providers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to include children with special educational needs and disabilities.
There's more information about help with paying for childcare for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities on our website.
What other financial childcare help is available?
The Government's Childcare Choices website brings together all the existing childcare offers in one place, so parents can get the help that fits their family.
This could be through Tax Free Childcare, 30 Hours Childcare, or Universal Credit Childcare. Some families might be eligible to use more than one childcare scheme together to get the most out of it.
There's also a 'Childcare Calculator' to add up all the help you can get.
The 'Help For Households' website also has a section with advice and financial support specifically for families.
 Want to know more?
There's a free online information session later this month about how to access funded childcare, what funding is available, the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
There is no need to book, just join by clicking on the link below:
While the session is primarily for parents, anyone that would like to know more about Early Years Funding is welcome to attend.
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