How to claim Free Childcare for 9 months olds from September 2024

If your child will be aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31 August 2024 and you work and are eligible for funding, you can now register to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare a week.

This article will explain how to access this funding and what we at Clarence House Day Nurseries offer. 

When to apply for 15 hours free childcare

You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old.

How free hours can be used

If your child is attending a Clarence House Day Nursery, these hours can be used per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time). In some of our nurseries, you may be able to use your hours for up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week. Check with your nursery manager to find out if this is something your nursery offers.

What will Clarence House Day Nurseries be offering?

CHDN will not be limiting applications. This means that if we have spaces available in our nurseries then you can sign up to use all your funded hours with us.

Who is eligible for the new childcare support

You need to meet the eligibility criteria before you can claim 15 hours free childcare.

You must live in England to apply for free childcare. The main criteria for your eligibility are:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• your immigration status

Your income

Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

• £2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £183 per week)
• £1,788 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £137 per week)
• £1,331 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £102 per week)

This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.

If you or your partner have an expected adjusted net income over £100,000 in the current tax year, you will not be eligible.

How to access new free childcare measures?

If you are eligible for this new funding of 15 hours of free childcare, you need to apply online on Gov.uk to receive a special code that you’ll need to provide us with to claim the funding on your behalf.for your nursery.

You’ll need to make sure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:

• your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are self-employed)
• the date you started or are due to start work
• details of any government support or benefits you receive
• the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.

You can claim your free hours the term after your child turns the qualifying age. For example:You can apply for your code in the term before they are eligible, so if your child is not eligible for free hours until the Spring term (January 2025) you must wait until the Autumn term (September 2024) to apply. 

What happens once I receive my code?

Contact us with your code, along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s date of birth. We will give you a funding form to complete, discuss the sessions in which you would like to use your funded hours and process the code to provide your free place.

Then all that’s left to do is reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months via the government portal. Failure to do this may result in the removal of your free hours, so make sure you set yourself reminders. 

Useful articles:

Government UK – How to claim 15 hours free childcare including how to get your code – https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/22/how-to-claim-15-hours-free-childcare-code/

Government UK – Check you’re eligible for free childcare if you’re working – https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

Government UK – Apply for free childcare if you’re working – https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working