All parents of 2 year olds to get their code for 15 hours free childcare
Charlie Bond
Netmums contributorWorking parents waiting for their reconfirmation window will be issued with a code through the post to use for 15 hours free childcare April
With the news that the UK is officially in a recession and with the cost of living crisis still affecting families, any help for families is welcomed.
And, one of the ways parents of two-year-olds should be able to access extra help in 2024 is through the 15 hours free childcare offering, which is due to come into effect from April 1st.
The scheme was announced last year and is being rolled out in phases with the first due to begin in just a few weeks – which should see children who turn two before the end of March 2024 able to get 15 hours of free childcare per week.
However, some parents have reported issues in applying and accessing the code they need to give to their childcare provider in order to get the free childcare hours from April.
Now, the government has stepped in to help those who are still waiting, by issuing them a code by post, which should arrive by Thursday, 15 February.
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Why do I need a code?
In order to claim the free childcare hours, working parents need to give a code to their childcare provider.
For those who already access tax free childcare , this code is issued when you reconfirm your details to let the government know that you still qualify by working the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage, and less than £100,000.
Called the 'reconfirmation window', every three months parents have to check and confirm their details. And, doing this triggers the start of your application for the 15 hours of free childcare.
Codes by post
Applications for the free childcare hours opened in January, but many parents struggled with the system because unless they had never accessed tax free childcare and were therefore starting a new application, or unless their confirmation window was already open, they couldn't access the code they needed to give to their nursery or childminder.
With many parents worried that their late reconfirmation window would make them miss out on accessing the free childcare from April, the Department for Education issued new guidelines, confirming that any eligible parent whose confirmation window was after 15th February would receive a code from HMRC by post, instead.
It said: 'To provide reassurance to parents with reconfirmation windows in late February and March, we’re taking additional steps to ensure every parent is able to give their code to their provider in good time.
'If your reconfirmation window opens on or after the 15 February, HMRC will send you a letter with a temporary code before this date.
'The letter will also explain how to use your code to claim your free place in April. Where possible, please wait for your letter to arrive. You don’t need to contact HMRC.'
What to do when you get your code
The code you receive will need to be passed on to your childcare provider so they can set up the 15 hours free childcare for you.
You’ll need to take the code to your childcare provider, along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s date of birth, and your childcare provider will then process the code to provide your free place.
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Do I still need to reconfirm if I've already had a code through the post?
The codes issued via the post from HMRC are only temporary codes to be used to secure your childcare place, but once your reconfirmation window opens, you'll need to reconfirm your details.
Then, you'll be given your official code, which you can pass on to your childcare provider in place of your temporary code.
The DfE says: 'If your reconfirmation window opens on or after 15 February, you will receive a letter with a temporary code which can be used straight away to claim your free place.
'However, once your reconfirmation window opens, you will still need to reconfirm via your Childcare Account and share this digital code with your provider.
'This is because you will need to continue to reconfirm via your Childcare Account to ensure your eligibility doesn’t lapse.'
What do I do if I don't get sent a code?
If your reconfirmation window is after 15 February and you haven't received a code through the post, then it's best to contact HMRC and speak to someone to find out what your next steps are.
DfE advises: 'If your reconfirmation window opens on or after the 15 February (and before 1 April 2024), you now should have received a letter from HMRC with a temporary code.
'The letter will also explain how to use your code to claim your free place in April. Where possible, please wait for your letter to arrive.
'If you haven't received your letter by 15th February, you should contact HMRC.'
Will there be enough childcare places available?
Both parents and childcare providers have shared concerns over whether there'll be enough spaces available from April.
Speaking to Sky News's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, the education secretary Gillian Keegan said that while the government is 'working flat out' to make sure everything is set up for the scheme, she could not guarantee there'd be enough places.
'Guaranteeing something in the future is something that you can never do. All you can do is put all the plans in place and then react if you need to,' she said.
'I am really confident that all the things that we have done will mean that every parent who wants to have a place is going to have a place.'
When will my child be eligible?
If your child is already two, or turns two before 31 March then you'll be eligible for the 15 hours free childcare from April and can apply now.
The next term begins in September, so for all children who turn two between 1 April and 31 August, you can access the free childcare the term after their birthday which starts on or after 1 September.
After that, the next term begins in January, so if your child turns 2 this year and their birthday falls between 1 September and 31 December 2024, you can access the free childcare the term after their birthday which starts on or after 1 January.
When can I apply?
It's worth noting that you can apply from when your child is 1 year and 36 weeks for 15 hours free childcare, which means you can't apply until 16 weeks before your child turns two.
So, for example if your child turns two on 1 May 2024, they won't be eligible for the 15 hours free childcare until 1 September 2024, but you don't need to wait until they are 2 to apply. You can apply 16 weeks before their birthday.
However, because your reconfirmation needs to be done every three months, you'd still need to reconfirm before the September term starts.
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