Legal News
Sandwell Council urges parents to claim 30 hours of free childcare (13 July 2017)
Date: 13/07/2017
Sandwell Council in the West Midlands is encouraging working parents and carers of three- and four-year-olds in Sandwell to claim 30 hours of free childcare.
Currently, parents of all children aged three and four receive 15 hours of free childcare a week – but from September, parents who work may also be eligible for an extra 15 hours a week during term-time.
Parents must be working and each earning at least £120 a week, but no more than £100,000 a year.
Eligible children will qualify for 30 hours free childcare from the term following their third birthday until they reach compulsory school age.
The council says that parents of children who are three by 31 August 2017 can apply for the extra hours now to start in September – once they have applied and if eligible, they will receive an 11-digit code from the HMRC, which needs to be given to their chosen childcare provider.
Funding can only be redeemed at the start of each term – if parents miss the deadline for the autumn term, funding will be offered for the start of the new term in January.
Sandwell Council's Cabinet Member for children's services, Councillor Simon Hackett, said:
“I'd urge families who are eligible and want to take up the offer of more flexible, free childcare to apply for it now.
”The extra hours can help parents to increase their own hours at work – and the offer is available with day nurseries, school nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools and childminders.”
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