9 month funding scheme

The funding only kicks in in September, January and April. So if you want your baby to start in December, then you will have to pay full price :/ Im in the same position and will start in January...

thank you!! I will have to change it to January!

how come it only kicks in September, January and April?

Thats the government rules :) you can read more about it here, and when to apply for it too:

https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/when-to-apply

I read that as there’s a deadline to apply- but not the fact you have to start them in a nursery right there and then. You have to reapply every 3 months too.

You can start them whenever you want to :) but you get the funding only from September, January or April depending on when your child turns 9 months.
So my daughter turns 9 months in October, so I cannot apply for September funding as she wont be 9 months by 31st of August. I can only apply for January funding. So If I wanted my daughter to start nursery before January, I would have to pay full amount from my own pocket. Does it make sense? :)

I’m with you now😅

This is so helpful thank you Karin! My son is 9 months in November so I’ll have to apply for the January ☺️