For all offers, Funding Terms are 1& September to 31 December, 1 January to 31 March, 1 April to 31 August. All funding is paid to the childcare providers (not parents) by term.

2 Year Offer

Eligibility and application:

• if you are eligible you can access this the term after your child turns 2
• eligibility information can be found at Childcare Choices
• you can apply via the citizen portal or your childcare provider can help you apply by completing an assisted application with you on their part of the portal
• once you have made an application and are eligible please show your confirmation email to your chosen childcare provider so they can copy down the reference number, eligibility date etc
• your childcare provider will ask to you complete and sign a Parent Agreement, you cannot start your funded place without this
• your child will be able to start their funded place from the date agreed with the childcare provider and stated in the confirmation email

How you can use your place:

• you can take up the place with a childminder, preschool or nursery and can split your hours across a maximum of 3 different providers working on 2 sites
• if you only use your funded hours you will not need to make any other payments to your provider
• you do not need to use your full 15 hours
• you can use up to 15 hours a week during school term time (38 weeks a year) or you can stretch your funding to cover outside of this (less hours per week for more weeks). This must be agreed and worked out with your childcare provider who will adjust their funding claims accordingly. They must not claim above the maximum for the funding term and claims cannot be backdated
• once you have taken up a place with a childcare provider you will not be able to change providers midterm. You can change childcare providers at the start of a term only
• once you are found to be eligible you will remain on the funding until your child moves to the 3 and 4-year-old Universal offer, even if your circumstances change

3 and 4 Year Old Universal Offer

Eligibility:

• once your child is aged 3 and a term they are automatically entitled to receive 15 funded hours a week. You do not have to make an application, simply speak to your chosen childcare provider
• your childcare provider will ask to you complete and sign a Parent Agreement, you cannot start your funded place without this

How you can use your place:

• you can take up the place with a childminder, preschool or nursery and can split your hours across a maximum of 3 different providers working on two sites
• you can use up to 15 hours a week during school term time (38 weeks a year) or you can stretch your funding to cover outside of this (less hours per week for more weeks). This must be agreed and worked out with your childcare provider who will adjust their funding claims accordingly. They must not claim above the maximum for the funding term and claims cannot be backdated
• once you have taken up a place with a childcare provider you will not be able to change providers midterm. You can change childcare providers at the start of a term only
• your child will receive this funding until they attend school (including reception class) or turn 5 (whichever is sooner)

Extended 30 hours Offer

Eligibility and application:

• if you are eligible you can access the place the term after your child turns 3
• eligibility information and the application process can be found at Childcare Choices
• you must apply for the funding before 31 August, 31 December or 31 March (i.e. the term before you want to use it). If you miss this date your funding cannot start until the next term
• when you have completed your application and are found to be eligible please give your reference number, starting 500, to your chosen childcare provider so they can verify it and confirm your start date
• you can start a place only at the beginning of the term (up until 14 September, 14 January or 14 April)
• your childcare provider will ask to you complete and sign a Parent Agreement, you cannot start your funded place without this
• to remain eligible for the funding you must reconfirm your code every 3 months, HMRC should send reminder emails for you to do this. Your childcare provider will remind you as well
• if your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible you will fall into your Grace Period. You can remain in your Grace Period for 12 weeks but you cannot start with a new provider during that time

How you can use your place:

• you can use your funding with a childminder, preschool or nursery and can split your hour's funding across a maximum of 3 different providers working on 2 sites
• you can use up to 30 hours a week during school term time (38 weeks a year) or you can stretch your funding to cover outside of this (less hours per week for more weeks). This must be agreed and worked out with your childcare provider who will adjust their funding claims accordingly. They must not claim above the maximum for the funding term and claims cannot be backdated
• if you remain eligible and if you reconfirm your code on time your child will stay on the 30 hours until they start reception

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact funded.childcare@bexley.gov.uk