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Oh, and the term start dates are 1st Jan, 1st April and 1st September. So even though the Easter term doesn't start until end of April you will still be able to use it from the 1st April
@Jayde thanks so much! So I need to apply at beginning of March basically. Only reason I was applying now (as soon as she turns 9 months) was because my nursery have sent us an invoice to be paid at the end of Feb, for the first month of nursery and obviously without the code this is more than what it will be with some funded hours. So worst case I guess for that month I have to pay in full, but then will be able to get the code and going forward get the 15 funded hours from April? Would be lovely if it meant free hours wouldn’t it, still over £300 for two days with the 15 hours 🤣😂Xx
If she's not starting until the end of April, why are they asking for payment 2 months early? That's insane! But yes, give them the code and once you've set up the account pay the nursery via the childcare account because the government pay 20% of your bill, but only if it's paid through that portal.
@Jayde I know I was a bit surprised by it to be fair seeing as we already paid to secure the place ages ago! Yep will do, thank you! x
So you can't apply for it until you're at least 31 days from returning back to work. You can set up a tax-free childcare account at this point, and you'll be given a code for the 15 hours funded (not free) hours, but you will have to apply before the end of March because you will have to have the code before April to be able to use it from the 1st April. You then need to reconfirm your account every 3 months to continue qualifying for it. I go back to work next week, so I applied for the tax-free account in mid-December, and it's all set up and I've paid my first nursery invoice via it. When I signed up, I got a code for the funded hours, but I still can't use it until April, which by that time I'll have reconfirmed my account.