Childcare Funding

The next term after April will be September so unless the nursery can accept the code in March when you can get it then I think you’ll end up paying ..

I think like above has stated, if they won’t accept the code in March, then the funding will kick in from September.

Oh deary me… hahahah! I’m laughing otherwise I’ll cry. That seems really unfair in considering he is the right age for it for that term… he’ll be 10 months! It’s just I’ve bulked my maternity with holiday 🫣 gahhh

I'm in the same position as I return in March and will miss the nursery cut off, but my nursery is applying the funding from the next invoice. If you're taking annual leave then the date you return is when your maternity leave ends and your annual leave begins if that makes sense. Not the day you're physically back at work, so maybe you can still get the funding? x

@Steph your return date will be the date your holiday begins as your mat leave will have ended. Is there much difference in dates? You might be able to get your code sooner?

@Ayesha I thought this would but it didn’t because it’s still more than 31 days before going back so it would still be Feb that I’d have the code but I can try again and hopefully they can help with that

@Drea ahhh this makes me feel so much better! We are only having to pay for 2 days if that’s the case. Thank you!

If you’re on holiday that counts as having returned but if you miss the application cut off for the code there’s absolutely nothing the nursery can do - the rules suck but it’s the government not the nursery that are being difficult. We ended up paying full price for 3 months 🙃 actually because of hmrc’s fuck up so we’re able to claim back but we pressed hard to be able to use the code and everyone said nothing that can be done if the deadline is missed. Is starting your holiday earlier an option? x

@Yasmin oh god… sounds like nurseries do it differently then!

@Steph it’s not the nursery it’s the government rules. They’re literally unable to apply the code past the deadline it just won’t work because they submit their headcount’s for the terms in advance x

@Yasmin why is everything so difficult when it comes to nursery funding hahah! We can’t afford £855 a month until September 😫

@Steph I had this exact row with the childcare department and bluntly they just didn’t care! We were paying £1100 a month at full price for 3 days 🤦🏽‍♀️ I’m convinced they make it difficult on purpose x

This happened to me. So phone them up and tell them you need a temporary code. They will give it right away on the phone after taking some details. Then nearer the return to work date you just continue the application and you’ll get the permanent code.

Are you eligible for the tax-free childcare account? I was in a similar situation as you when I returned to work a few months ago. Had to wait until the start of the next term which was 2 months after my return. The tax-free childcare helped as it pays about 20% (I think) of the monthly fee. And you can combine it with the 15 hours when you get it which reduces your personal spend even more.

@Serena thank you! I’ve just called them but he couldn’t give the temporary code on the phone but said it’ll be with me within two weeks.

If anyone is reading this in a similar situation, I called the Childcare Service helpline on the government website. They said that they will send a temporary code out (still misses the deadline just but will help my situation a bit). He confirmed that the nursery will apply it to the May invoice and I will not need to wait until the next term for the code to applied. Hope this helps!

You can get the code x amount of time before starting your work, give them code then. It’ll be void until you qualify and then will kick in. I had the same issue earlier in the year when my son turned 2.

Hey all when is the cut off to apply for the funding and get the code? I’m really confused about it all?