Does childcare element pay for preschool?

[Urchin]

Brody is now at pre school 2 mornings a week, it's only £5 a time but I wondered if the child tax credits pay for it?

Or do you have to get WTC first? Cos I don't.

 

[CH0C0H0LIC]

Normally you would have to claim WTC to get the Childcare element but there is the Nursery Education Grant (I think it's called) that entitles pre-school children to a certain number of sessions/hours per week. If I can remember where the website is I'll post it otherwise just ask at the nursery/pre-school.

I used to work in a playgroup/pre-school and as far as I remember the funding was for children starting the term after their 3rd birthday and was for 15hrs a week. The usual procedure was that you signed a form and the nursery applied for the grant as the government pays the nursery direct. Make sure you only sign for the actual number of sessions your child attends unless you want to increase the number of sessions in the near future at the same nursery - the grant can cover more than one provider so you can split the free sessions between providers. Helpful if you work/study in a diff area on a tues/thurs for example then provider 'A' can claim mon wed fri and provider 'B' can claim tues and thurs.

EDITED TO ADD: Found the link!!!! http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents...rseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103

Hope this helps!
Sarah xxx

 

[Babylicious]

I think it does urchin as we used to get more ctc when I claimed for paris's after school club. We get sod all now though as we earn too much. Harrison is clearing us out with the child care though

Are you still working? Do your company offer the leapfrog vouchers? We save that way with the fees, take the fees before tax and insurance x

 

[Urchin]

Oh brody's not 3 till december.

I don't think I'm going back to work anyway

Thanks for the info :O)

 

[Tangerinedream]

Our local council is offering free places for 2 year olds for a few hours a week- yours might do something similar

 

[Princess_Puddles]

Normally you would have to claim WTC to get the Childcare element

No you don't have to. We're not entitled to WTC as my OH earns too much but we're entitled to the Childcare element.

 

[Baileysmummy]

Brody will get the goverment funding for nursery in January x
Bradley turned 3 in June and he got it September, new school term, so January is the new school term so he should get 12 hours a week