Take Off funding for 9 month to 4 year olds
Eligibility criteria
If you are a working parent and your child is 9 months and above, you might be eligible for 1140 hours of funded early learning childcare. This means 1140 hours per year equivalent to a maximum of 30 hours per week.
Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least, on average, equivalent to the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week. Both parents in a two-parent household must be working. Part-time working could meet the income threshold. Self-employed parents may also be eligible.
You can earn up to £100,000 adjusted net income per year and be eligible. If you or your partner have an expected adjusted net income over £100,000 in the current tax year, you will not be eligible.
You can check your eligibility and apply for your childcare code up to 16 weeks before your child is due to start.
The 11-digit code must have a start date on or before:
31 March to start in summer term - April
31 August to start in autumn term - September
31 December to start in spring term – January
To avoid losing your childcare funding, you must:
- check your unique end date and ensure your code is revalidated on time
- revalidate your eligibility code every 3 months to keep your funding
- understand it is your responsibility to keep codes up to date or you will lose your childcare funding.
Your child’s place using the funded early learning childcare offers is funded by the Government. However, this Government funding does not cover:
- meals and nappies
- a registration or administration fee
- additional activities, such as trips.
- extra hours due to the pattern of attendance.
We recommend that these extras are confirmed in writing before you take up your child’s place and itemised on the invoice your provider gives you. Some providers may let you bring a packed lunch if the cost of their lunch is a barrier to you taking a place.
How to apply
You can check your eligibility and apply for your childcare code up to 16 weeks before your child is due to start.
When applying for funding codes on the Government website, you must apply before their cut off dates and that you must revalidate your 11-digit code every 3 months.
Codes must have a start date on or before:
31 March to start in summer term - April
31 August to start in autumn term - September
31 December to start in spring term – January
To avoid losing your childcare funding, you must:
- check your unique end date and ensure your code is revalidated on time
- revalidate your eligibility code every 3 months to keep your funding
- understand it is your responsibility to keep codes up to date or you will lose your childcare funding.
Childcare providers offer many different funding models. You will need to speak to your childcare provider to find out what combination of fee paying and funded childcare sessions they offer.
Your child’s place using the funded early years childcare is funded by the Government, however other small costs could be:
- your child’s lunch
- a registration or administration fee
- extra hours due to the pattern of attendance.
We recommend that these extras are confirmed in writing before you take up your child’s place. Some providers may let you bring a packed lunch if the cost of their lunch is a barrier to you taking a place.
Eligibility criteria for foster parents
If you are a working foster parent and your child is 9 months and above, you might be eligible for 1140 hours of funded early learning childcare. This means 1140 hours per year equivalent to a maximum of 30 hours per week.
The Department for Education (DfE) guidance explains the criteria and process for foster parents in paid employment which is additional to their fostering duties.
- Agreement from the responsible local authority that the foster parent engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent is consistent with the child’s care plan. The agreement that the foster parents can take up the funded childcare entitlement should be recorded and the care plan for the child should be updated as appropriate.
- That, in single-parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent, although there is no minimum income requirement.
- And in two parent foster families, either both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent (although there is no minimum income requirement for either foster parent) or one partner engages in paid work and the other partner receives certain qualifying benefits.
- If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits. The Eligibility Checking System (ECS) is unable to perform the additional eligibility checks required so the department has developed a parallel application process that uses existing delivery arrangements wherever possible. If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits.
The initial application form needs to be completed by the foster parents for new children and countersigned by the child’s social worker so that eligibility for the working parent entitlement can be checked by the Childcare and Families Information Team before a voucher code is issued.
When applying for funding codes on the Government website, you must apply before their cut off dates and that you must revalidate your 11-digit code every 3 months.
Codes must have a start date on or before:
31 March to start in summer term - April
31 August to start in autumn term - September
31 December to start in spring term – January
To avoid losing your childcare funding, you must:
- check your unique end date and ensure your code is revalidated on time
- revalidate your eligibility code every 3 months to keep your funding
- understand it is your responsibility to keep codes up to date or you will lose your childcare funding.
Once a voucher code has been issued, the foster parents will then need to complete the revalidation form and get this countersigned by the child’s social worker every 3 months to continue receiving the fostered child’s funded early learning childcare.
Application process for prospective adoptive parents
When a previously looked-after child has been placed with the prospective adoptive parent/s but the formal adoption order has not yet been granted by the courts, the parent/s are no longer considered to be the child’s foster parents.
The adoption agency (the relevant local authority) must notify the prospective adopter/s in writing of the date on which the child is placed for adoption with them. This is the adoption placement order.
If they wish to apply for the working parent entitlement, the prospective adopter/s must apply online through the Childcare Service rather than with the local authority as they can no longer apply using the foster parent route. If they do not hold the child’s birth certificate, they can provide HMRC with the adoption placement order from the adoption agency during the application process.
As with other parents, they must meet the eligibility criteria for the working parent entitlement, including the minimum income requirement and the requirement to reconfirm with the Childcare Service every 3 months. This remains the same when the adoption order is granted by the court.
To avoid losing your childcare funding, you must:
- check your unique end date and ensure your code is revalidated on time
- revalidate your eligibility code every 3 months to keep your funding
- understand it is your responsibility to keep codes up to date or you will lose your childcare funding.
When does a Take Off funded early learning childcare place start?
If you meet the working parent eligibility criteria, your child can start the term after they turn 9 months or older:
- If your child's birthday falls between 1 January and 31 March, they are eligible in the summer term after they turn 9 months old.
- If your child's birthday falls between 1 April and 31 August, they are eligible in the autumn term after they turn 9 months old.
- If your child's birthday falls between 1 September and 31 December, they are eligible in the spring term after they turn 9 months old.
Getting a place
Have a look at our childcare directory to see all the providers offering Take Off funded places in your area.
If you have a question or comment regarding finding suitable childcare, please contact us online.