3o Hours Free Childcare Scheme
From September 2017 new government legislation means that working parents with a 3 or 4 year old, who meet the eligibility criteria, will be entitled to an additional 15 hours of free early education and childcare on top of the 15 hours currently offered.
This new legislation will enable parents to have extra childcare hours whilst they work which will help them manage their childcare costs, which is potentially worth around £5,000 per child per year. The 30 Hours free childcare can support parents into work, to work successfully, or to work more hours should they wish to do so. There are also obvious benefits for children who extend their early education which includes a child being more likely to build up confidence, social skills, resilience, respect and teamwork skills.
The government Childcare Choices website provides eligibility information and a childcare calculator which helps parents compare all of the governments childcare offers. It also has a link to the application form:
Website: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 4097 if you need assistance to apply or are experiencing problems with the online application process.
Doncaster Councils Families Information Service website provides a childcare/school search for 30 hour providers
Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk/fis
Please Note: the term ‘provider’ will be used throughout this document and it refers to school nurseries and Ofsted registered childcare providers who are included on Doncaster Councils Directory of Providers (this is a list of childcare providers who are able to deliver free entitlement places for 2, 3 & 4 year olds)