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Transcript
Funded Early Education and Childcare Offers Explained
There are three offers available to parents:
- Universal 15 hours offer – funded education for 3 and 4 year olds
- Bright Futures for 2-year-olds – 15 hours funded early education for 2 year olds
- Working Families 30 hours entitlement – funded early education for children from age 9 months until they start school
Universal 15 Hours Offer
This is a universal entitlement available to every child aged 3 and 4 to receive 15 hours of funded early education, regardless of parent income or work status.
Eligibility: Your child can take up their offer the term after their third birthday and it is available until your child starts full-time school.
How to access: Parents must use a registered childcare provider, such as a school-based nursery or a maintained nursery school.
For further information, please visit www.slough.gov.uk [the website for Slough Borough Council is read out] and search "funded early education for 3 and 4 year olds".
Bright Futures for 2-Year-Olds
Families on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits may be eligible to claim 15 hours of funded early education for their child the term after their second birthday.
How to access: You will need to use a registered childcare provider.
Eligibility check and application: Parents can check their eligibility and make an application by visiting www.slough.gov.uk [the website for Slough Borough Council is read out] and search "Bright futures for 2-year-olds".
Working Parents 30 Hours Entitlement
Eligible working parents can claim 30 hours of funded early education for their child from 9 months of age.
Earnings requirement
- At least the equivalent of 16 hours at the minimum wage
- Below £100,000 per year
How hours can be taken
- 38 weeks (term time only, like a typical school timetable)
- Some providers offer stretched hours across the year
- Sessions may be available 6am to 8pm, with no session longer than 10 hours
- Funded hours can be used with a maximum of 2 providers per day
Applying for your code
- Apply for an 11-digit code the term before you wish your childcare to start
- Example: If your child's birthday is 1st February, apply by 31st March for childcare starting 1st April
Reconfirm eligibility every term
- Must use a registered childcare provider
Application process
- Visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk
- and choose "eligibility checker"
- Check your eligibility before applying
- If eligible, you will receive an 11-digit code for your childcare provider
- Applications usually take 20 minutes, some may take up to 7 days
Information you will need
- National Insurance numbers
- Unique taxpayer reference (UTR) if self-employed
- UK birth certificate reference number (if available) for any children
- Date you started or are due to start work (approximate if more than 3 months)
Finding registered childcare providers
- Visit Slough Family Information service at www.sloughfamilyservices.org.uk
- Search under parent and carers - early years and childcare.
Tax-free childcare
There is more help available to support working parents with the cost of their childcare. Working parents can apply for a tax-free childcare account. You can use your tax-free childcare account to help with paying for additional childcare hours, or if you have a child in primary school with childcare costs.
For every £8 you pay into your account, the government will top this up to £10. This is worth up to £2,000 per year. And if you have a child with special educational needs or disability, the amount can be up to £4,000 per year.
Note: parents claiming their childcare costs through universal credit will not be eligible to claim tax-free childcare.
Visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk for more information on how to set up an account. [the website address for Best Start in Life is read out]
More information
For information on pregnancy, childcare, education, and much more, visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk [the website address for Best Start in Life is read out].