Free childcare available for parents in Halton
PARENTS of three and four-year-olds in Halton are being reminded they are now entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week.
The free early years entitlement changed in September to allow parents in the borough an extra 15 hours care for their youngsters a week, bringing the total up to 30.
It is intended to support working parents with the cost of childcare and enable them to return to work or to work additional hours if they wish.
Parents in Runcorn and Widnes are reminded that they can only start claiming a 30-hour place for their three or four-yearold the term following the date they receive authorisation from Her Majesty’s Revenue And Customs (HMRC).
Parents are being encouraged to apply before the end of November if they wish to start claiming from January next year.
Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for children, young people and families, Cllr Tom McInerney, said: “We want to make sure everyone knows what they are entitled to.”
Once parents have applied and been informed they are eligible for the additional 15 ● hours, and have been issued with an eligibility code, they need to take the number to their childcare provider.
The provider needs to verify the code and date before a child can take up the additional hours.
Parents will also need to re-confirm eligibility every three months.
Applications received after December 31 will not be eligible to claim the additional hours until April 2018.
To be eligible, a youngster must be aged three or four before December 31, and working parents must have applied for the additional hours and been issued with an eligibility code by that date.
Parents already claiming 30 hours free childcare are also reminded that they must re-confirm eligibility every three months on their Government gateway account.
They will receive an email reminder in their Government secure emails account approximately four weeks before their expiry date.
For more information and to apply visit childcare-support. tax. service. gov.uk