The 30 hour Extended Entitlement Programme Update May 2017 v2 1
Content Page Introduction 1 The Parental application process 4 2 Operational, Contractual and Funding information for Providers 16 3 Delivery Models, Contracts and Flexibility 33 4 Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) 38 5 Increasing your broader understanding of who is working in your geographical 42 area, and who may be potential partners in the future . Online information The HMRC “Childcare Choices” website 6 44 And Family directory in Ealing (including community language translations) 7 Next Steps 46 Aims of the workshop • To present to providers the latest information and updates regarding the 30hr extended entitlement to increase their knowledge and assist in their preparation for the September 2017 roll-out. • To increase your broader understanding of who is working in your geographical area, and who may be potential partners in the future. 2
Introduction The extended free childcare entitlement for working parents of three and four-year olds will provide eligible parents with a total of 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks or the equivalent number of hours across more weeks per year. Entitlement All 3 and 4 year olds will continue to be eligible for 15 hours per week of free early education. This is a universal entitlement for all children. The new entitlement is an extension of the current entitlement and provides an additional 15 hours of free childcare for children that are eligible It aims to be a work incentive The free entitlement is restricted to childcare arrangements that enable parents to take up paid work, to continue in paid work or to increase paid work. Parents who are studying will not qualify for the new entitlement, unless they meet the eligibility criteria. Underpinned by new Legislation - The Childcare Act 2016 Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 16 th March 2016. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law). Timetable The 30hr Childcare entitlement will be rolled out nationally from September 2017 Do Schools and Childcare Providers have to offer the 30hours? There is no mandatory requirement for a school or childcare provider to offer the 30 hour Programme. We are however expecting a high demand from eligible parents. Delivery Providers delivering both the first and second 15 hours are required to follow the EYFS. Ofsted will not differentiate their inspections between the first and second 15 hours. 3
Section 1. The parental application process Overview Page 1.1 The initial parents application process overview 5 1.2 The parents three month confirmation process 6 In detail 1.3 The eligibility criteria-who will qualify for the 30hr entitlement? 7 1.4 Eligibility start dates for those children turning 3 years 9 1.5 How do parents apply for the 30hr extended entitlement? 10 1.6 The parental application process in detail 11 1.7 How parents find their eligibility code 12 1.8 Summary 13 1.9 Tax Free Childcare overview 14 Q&A 15 4
How to help Parents at this stage 1.1.The initial parental application process 1. Providers should direct parents to Childcare Choices and the Childcare Calculator to learn more about which • In order to access the 30 hr entitlement, Parents will offers might be best for them, need to declare that they expect to earn the equivalent 1. of 16 hours national minimum or living wage on whether they’re likely to be eligible, average each week over the next quarter. Parents Apply and how to apply. •They are able to apply online through “Childcare directly to HMRC https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ Choices” or through a dedicated phone line 0300 123 4097 2. Use the DfE Eligibility guide to help •If eligible they are issued a ‘voucher number’ 2. parents understand if they are eligible with which they can choose to use with up to HMRC responds three providers. & supplies • The voucher lasts for 3 months before parents 3. If parents encounter any problems voucher number must reconfirm their status you should direct their queries to the childcare service Customer • Parent presents the Interaction Centre on voucher number to the 0300 123 4097 . 3. Provider as a means to Parent contacts secure hours. Provider with • They will also need to show voucher number you the Child DOB and their NI number. • . Provider obtains parental consent to validate the 4. voucher Provider validates • Provider validates eligibility eligibility on LA by entering the Voucher Portal Code on the automated LA Portal 5. • Recording LA Confirms and payment Eligibility Code and arrangements arranges monthly agreed payments 5
1.2. The parents 3 month conformation process How to help Parents at this stage 1. • HMRC notifies parent 4 weeks before HMRC notifies expiry of the voucher with a reminder to Parent 4 weeks Providers should remind parents reconfirm their status. Via text message before expiry of that they need to reconfirm when and/or email voucher prompted by the HMRC. • If successful the voucher number is confirmed for the next three months-Previous steps 3-5 If parents miss the reconfirmation 2. apply deadline, they will receive a • If the family circumstances have changed and Parent message telling them that their reconfirms they become ineligible they enter details • The “grace period” eligibility has lapsed. Although they are no longer eligible, they may be able to retain 3. • Even if ineligible the Parent their childcare place for a short Parent contacts presents the Voucher Provider with number to Provider period; this is known as a grace voucher number period • Provider checks eligibility by 4. entering the Voucher Code Provider checks on the LAs Portal. “Grace eligibility on LA period is confirmed & Portal calculated. Grace Period-Exceptional Circumstances 5. • Recording and The DfE recognise that there may be circumstances where payment LA Confirms Eligibility arrangements agreed the grace period should be longer. In such circumstances, Code and arranges to the end of the monthly payments to the DfE propose that local authorities should have the “grace period” end of grace period discretion to extend the grace period for a short time . 6
1.3 Eligibility Criteria for the additional 15 hours: Who will qualify for 30 hours free childcare? A child is entitled to free early years provision if the child has attained the age of three, is under compulsory school age and the child’s parent(s) meets the eligibility criteria set out below: • They earn or expect to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months. • This equates to £120 a week (or c.£6,000 a year) for each parent over 25 years old or£112.80 a week (or c.£5,800 a year) for each parent between 21 and 24 years old. • This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract. • The parent (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the free childcare to enable them to work. In addition: • Where one or both parents are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave. • Where one parent meets the income criteria and the other is unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work. • Where a parent is in a ‘start - up period’ (i.e. they are newly self -employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months. • If a non-EEA national, the parent must have recourse to public funds. 7
1.3. Eligibility criteria (continued) Who will not qualify? A parent will not meet the criteria when: • Either parent has an income of more than £100,000 • Either parent is a non-EEA national and subject to immigration control (and has no recourse to public funds) What happens if a parent loses eligibility? • They will receive a “grace period” – this means they will be able to keep their childcare for a short period. • Once the “grace period” has lapsed, the parent may be entitled to the universal 15 hour entitlement. Parents cannot claim under the following circumstances: • Parents cannot claim 30 hours free childcare once their child has reached compulsory school age (the term following their fifth birthday). • Due to the three monthly cycles of reconfirmation, and to allow for those children who do not reach compulsory school age until a while after their child turns five, some parents may still have a code after their child reaches compulsory school age. It is therefore important that providers check the age of the child as well as the code. • Parents cannot claim their 30 hours in addition to a full time reception place in a maintained school or academy. • Therefore, parents cannot use their eligibility code to claim their 30 hours if their child is in a full- time reception place. 8
Recommend
More recommend
