With the 30 hours roll-out expected from September, childcare providers are starting to get eligibility codes from parents. And this puts managers on the front line, explaining why a parent can’t claim for the desired period, or the intricacies of what happens if they have moved from a different county.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that many local authorities haven’t yet produced provider’s agreements detailing policies on things such as additional charges, leaving providers unsure on what terms they are able to offer the 30 hours.
THE PROCESS
Parents sign up to both the 30 hours entitlement and tax-free childcare schemes via one online system, the Childcare Service, which should consider their eligibility for both simultaneously. Parents need to complete a separate application for a Government Gateway account, which generates an ID to access the Childcare Service. According to HMRC, ‘The 30 hours eligibility code will stay with the child as long as the same parent is still applying. If a different person (e.g. a new partner) applies, they’ll get a new eligibility code.’
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