Childcare 😭

I don’t think we can claim it yet. It’s only open to over twos and then later in the year it opens up. I think!

I’m pretty certain because it’s not kicking in until September they won’t open the applications for September until closer to the time, which means applications for the January term won’t open until late this year I believe! However I’m not too sure how it works unfortunately regarding maternity leave & applying x

I'm going back to work in 2 weeks and have only just been approved for my childcare account. You can only sort it just before you need it, so if you don't need it til Jan, you'll be able to sort the account in Dec. As others have said, the 15 hours won't be available to apply for until much later in the year.

It wont open til later in the year but i can say this, i have just set up an account and got my code for my 2yo for Sep and im on MAT leave with my 2nd atm so had no issues with applying.

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

thanks everyone! Can’t believe my daughter isn’t even 3 weeks old yet and I’m already stressing about this 🤣

@Talia have you found a nursery? I waited to look until my son was about 3 months old for him to start in June, and most places were gull till next year! I was so shocked, especially as I work in childcare 😂

They open applications for September in May… 12th to be exact (working parents for 9 month old)

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/childcare-applications-for-parents-of-9-month-olds-to-open-12-may

Here is the official government link

I don’t even know where to start! Can i start contacting nurseries now considering she wont be starting until January? I wish this was simpler 🤣

@Talia yes I would definitely recommend contacting them now or as soon as possible 😊 one of my friends signed up her baby when she was 20 weeks pregnant!

definitely get a nursery place ASAP. We got our nursery place back in November for January 2025. A girl from our NCT class was enquiring about the same nursery last week and they told her it’s full for this year and next 😬

It’s from September 2025

15 hours for 9 month olds is from September 2024, and from September 2025 it goes up to 30 hours x

It doesn’t start till September hunni, we’ve been told to make an account to access tax free child care as our little boy is going to a childminders from May and from September we’ll be able on the account to claim 15 hours free. Our childminder seemed quite knowledgeable about it all as she helped me sort the original account so maybe worth an ask when going to sort paperwork for childminders xx

As long as you fulfil the other criteria then you’re eligible for the hours from the term after they turn the criteria age. E.g baby reaches 9 months old between April-Aug 2024 then you can receive hours from the Sep 2024 term (applying for these from May). If baby turns 9months old Sep-Dec 2024 then you can receive the hours from Jan 2025 and apply for these from Sep.

If you are on maternity leave for the child you are applying for then you can do the application 31 days before your return to work date. So if your return to work date is on January 1st you can do your application from Dec 1st. It was pretty simple and quick to set it up though.

I would secure a place at a nursery or childcare provider as soon as possible though as the demand for spots is higher now that more people are going to be able to access the funded hours from when their child is at a much younger age. (The term starting months for info purposes are Sep, Jan and April).
Hope that helps x

It'll be from the term after they turn 9 months so, for example, if your baby turns 9 months in September, they won't get the funding until the following January x

I've just noticed this has already been mentioned, whoops 🙈

Definitely speak to the childminder. I did with mine and she sent me everything. My LG starts in September (she turns 1 in April) and the gov website said I couldn’t apply yet. I did anyway and it worked x

@Talia definitely start looking now, when I found out I was pregnant in 2020 I rung nurseries and childminders and some had overa year waiting list. It will probably be worse now people taking advantage of the free hours

definitely start contacting them now. I signed up at nursery when I was pregnant with my LO