GovWire

Wraparound childcare

Childcare is a concern that continues to be raised on behalf of Service families by the Families Federations and other stakeholders. The concern has been reflected in recent surveys carried out by the Families Federations, the wider Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) and the Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FAMCAS).

Feedback fromAFCASandFAMCAShighlighted that a lack of good quality, enriching and appropriate childcare has a significant impact on partner employment, which can influence Service personnels decisions on whether to stay in or leave the Armed Forces.

In recognition of the issues that some Service families face when trying to access wraparound childcare and its potential negative impact on retention, the Secretary of State for Defence launched the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme.

Eligible Service personnel (Tri-Service) can register for up to 20 hours a week per child during term time only (39 weeks per year) of wraparound childcare funding for 4 to 11-year-old children (4 to 16 years if in receipt of certain disability benefits) attending before and after school childcare in the UK.

Eligibility criteria

• at least one partner (or single parent) must be serving as an Armed Forces Regular or Full Time Reserve Service (all commitment types)
• the child for whom the Service person has parental responsibility must be aged 4 to 11 years (4 to 16 years if in receipt of certain disability benefits), must attend school (including home education) and be living with the serving person for at least 50% of the time unless separated due to Service commitments (deployment, residential courses), or when serving on unaccompanied assignments overseas with the family remaining in the UK
• a Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account must be set up with HRMC for each child that a Service person wants to claim funding for
• the childcare provider must also be signed up to the TFC scheme and be able to accept TFC payments
• the Service parent has either an assignment order to a UK-based unit, or is serving on an unaccompanied assignment overseas with the family remaining in the UK

How to claim

Service families can check if they are eligible for WACand find out how claim funding by visiting: Discover My Benefits.

Contact

• for claims queries - contact your unit HR team or admin office
• for policy questions - PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

For more information onWAC visit: Defence childcare information (accessible by MOD personnel only) or Defence Connect (sign-in required).

United Kingdom (UK)

There are a number of childcare options for parents to choose from. Parents should go to Childcare Choices for further information and guidance on all available government childcare schemes.

England

For the current offer in England and guidance, parents should visit Childcare Choices.

You can also check to see if youre eligible forTax-Free Childcare (TFC). You can getTFCat the same time as 15 or 30 hours free childcare if youre eligible for both.

Scotland

For the current childcare offer in Scotland and information about early learning and childcare (ELC), parents should visit: Parent Club or mygov.scot.

Wales

For the current childcare offer in Wales, parents should visit the Welsh Government website.

Northern Ireland

For the current childcare offer in Northern Ireland and guidance, parents should contact 38 (Irish) Brigade at RC-AWS-38X-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

Returning from overseas or moving within the UK

30 hours free childcare codes are not valid overseas.

If you are returning from overseas or moving within the UK, please visit Childcare Choices to find out what is available in your area. The application process and deadlines may vary.

Moving to England

Its not possible to apply for additional funded childcare online when you are outside the UK. If you are due to return to England after a term deadline, you can call the Childcare Service Helpline on 0300 123 4097 to apply for a free childcare code and request a manual application.

Information on term deadlines and when to apply can be found in DIN - Funded childcare entitlements and processes for overseas Service personnel and UK-Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school-aged children (accessible by MOD personnel only).

Moving to Scotland

Funded early learning and childcare is free to all parents and is funded by the Scottish Government. You can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare per year (around 30 hours a week in term time) if your child is 3 or 4 years old. Some 2-year-old children are also eligible.

For more information, please visit Help paying for childcare.

Moving to Wales

Wales provides 30 hours a week of free early education and childcare for working parents of children aged 3 and 4 years, for 48 weeks of the year. Applications are processed directly by each local authoritys Family Information Service (FIS) wherethe parents live.

Find your local family information service here.

Moving to Northern Ireland

Parents of children aged 3 and 4 years can apply to receive 12.5 hours a week of free, also known as funded pre-school education. This allocation can only be taken over 2.5 hours per day, 5 days a week during term time.

Places are provided by nursery schools, primary schools with nursery units and some voluntary and private providers. The places cannot be provided by childminders.

For more information, please visit NI Direct.

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