If you're a parent trying to understand how government childcare funding works, you're not alone.
Many parents who come to visit our nursery have questions about the different options available. Here's a simple explanation to help you understand how 15-hour and 30-hour childcare funding works.
15 Hours Free Childcare for Two and Three-Year Olds
Once you apply for childcare funding and are found eligible, you can receive 570 hours of funded childcare per year. This funding starts from the term after your child reaches the eligible age, depending on when their birthday falls:
January – March birthdays: Funding starts in April, and your funding year runs from April to March.
April – August birthdays: Funding starts in September, and your funding year runs from September to August.
September – December birthdays: Funding starts in January, and your funding year runs from January to December.
How can you use the 15 hours funding?
You have two options for using your funded hours:
Term-Time-Only (38 weeks per year): You can use 15 hours per week during school terms.
Example: 570 hours a year / 38 weeks = 15 hours per week.
All-Year-Round (up to 52 weeks per year): You can spread the hours out over the whole year, which works out to around 11 hours per week.
Example: 570 hours a year / 52 weeks = approximately 11 hours per week.
30 Hours Childcare Funding for Three-Year Olds
If you qualify for 30 hours free childcare, you'll receive 1,140 hours of funded childcare per year. Just like with the 15 hours funding, this starts from the term after your child reaches the eligible age.
How can you use the 30 hours funding?
You can choose to use this funding in one of two ways:
Term-Time-Only (38 weeks per year): You can use 30 hours per week during school terms.
Example: 1,140 hours a year / 38 weeks = 30 hours per week.
All-Year-Round (up to 52 weeks per year): You can spread the hours over the entire year, giving you around 22 hours per week.
Example: 1,140 hours a year / 52 weeks = approximately 22 hours per week.
Important Note: Depending on your childcare provider, you may only be able to use the funding in one of these ways (either Term Time Only or All Year Round) or have the option to choose.
Final Thoughts
Understanding childcare funding can be a bit confusing at first, but knowing how it works can make a big difference in managing your childcare costs. Whether you're eligible for 15 hours or 30 hours of funding, you have flexibility in how you use those hours, depending on your needs and the options your childcare provider offers.
Do you have a question? We are here to help
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