10th May 2017
Dear Parents/Carers
30 hours Free Entitlement to Early Education
As you know, all children are entitled to 15 hours a week of free early education the term after they are three. The Government has committed to doubling this to 30 hours a week for working parents from September 2017. The aim is that this will support parents who wish to work, or to work more hours. To be eligible, both parents/carers have to be working, each of whom need to be earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the national living wage (for most people this equates to £120). It is the amount of money earned, not the hours worked, which is the deciding factor. Further details on eligibility can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/600592/30_hours_free_childcare_eligibility.pdf
We have been receiving information and attending meetings regarding this and we have been reliably informed that parents can apply for this now online on the HMRC website. If your child is three before the 31st August 2017, you can make your application by going tohttps://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/par/app/applynow and following the links. If you are eligible, you will receive a code which you will need to bring in to Nursery so that we can apply for the funding. You will need to reconfirm your eligibility online every 3 months.
Please note, however, that we may not be able to give your child 30 hours if we do not have the space available. It will depend on how busy we are and the demand. We may have to apply a maximum number of hours for everyone. We will endeavour to use a system which is fair to all. Your 30 hours does not need to be taken with just one provider, it can be shared between several during the week, although it is restricted to 2 during any one day. You may not want to take up your full entitlement, maybe just 20 hours, say, and we will be able to claim for just that amount.
Every child will continue to receive 15 hours a week of free early education the term after they are three and the process for claiming that entitlement will not be changing.
If you have any questions about this, please ask. We may have to refer to a higher authority to obtain an answer as it is all new to us, and to Essex County Council!
Yours sincerely
Sandra Davison
Nursery Teacher