Funding
September 2024 brings the next phase of the government funded hours expansion. From September 2024, the 15 hours funding will be extended to, those eligible, from nine months plus. It’s important to know that 15 hours is funded for 38 weeks of the year (term time only and one non funded week in Autumn). At Inspirations, we can stretch that to make it 11 hours a week. We can do that from each September term.
One thing we need to be aware of, is that all funding becomes valid the term after they turn 9 months, 2 years or 3 years. The terms are September (Autumn), January (Spring) and April (Summer). This means if your child turns 3 in May, they will not be eligible for the 3-year
funding until September.
You can check if you are eligible and set up a childcare account here – https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working
Here you need to also revalidate your code every 3 months; it’s a good idea to make a note of the date as more than likely, the reminder will go in to junk. If you don’t revalidate it, we as providers will not be able to claim the funding on your behalf.
On here, you can also make use of the tax-free childcare scheme. It is useful because when you put money in there, you get a government top up. Then you can pay Inspirations through that. You get an account code that you will just need to send us, so we know who to allocate
it to when it’s been paid in. Next September 2025, is the last phase of the funding expansion; where we will see all
eligible families receive 30 hours per week childcare. Again, this is over 38 weeks but we can stretch that too.
Please see the link below for our video to help you fill out the funding forms-
-Kayleigh