NEW: 15 Hours Funding for Working Parents of 2-Year-Olds
NEW: 15 Hours Funding for Working Parents of 2-Year-Olds
You may have heard the news that, from April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds can receive 15 hours of funding per week towards the cost of childcare.
Here, you will find out all you need to know about the eligibility criteria, how you can make use of the funding at one of our nurseries, and how to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
If you are a working parent, you may be eligible for the funding as part of the Government’s decision to extend the entitlement of children to 2-year-olds. Until April 2024, only parents who received specific benefits were able to claim this funding.
You can claim this funding if you and any partner expect to earn (on average) at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage).
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.
You can’t get the funding if you or your partner each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.
How to Use the Funding
Parents and carers can use the funding at one of our nurseries through our ‘wrap-around model’, which would allow your child to attend the nursery all year round*, with the value of your funding entitlement being spread across the year and reducing your monthly bill.
If you haven’t already, please enquire with your preferred nursery to see if a place is available and to arrange a time to visit. You can find your local Tommies Childcare nursery here.
*The funding is only available for 38 weeks of the year. Our wrap-around model will enable you to access a nursery place all year round.
How to Apply
To apply for the funding, you will need to create an account with the Childcare Service (if you haven’t already) and complete an application to redeem a funding code. You can access the Childcare Service here.
The deadline for codes to be issued ahead of the Spring 2024 term is 31st March 2024. Please ensure you complete your application in time to avoid missing out.
Once you have submitted a successful application, you will then need to provide your chosen nursery with the following information:
- Your unique 11-digit funding code
- The date you applied for your funding
- Your full name and National Insurance number
Save Even More on Your Childcare Costs with Tax-Free Childcare
If you are eligible for the new funding, there is a good chance that you will also be eligible to access the Tax-Free Childcare scheme. The Tax-Free Childcare scheme is a payment method you can use for paying your childcare bills, saving you as much as 20% on your childcare costs.
The Tax-Free Childcare scheme can be used in conjunction with 2, 3 and 4-year-old funding.
You can apply for and open your Tax-Free Childcare account here.
