Where to start….
Choosing childcare or early years education for your child is a huge step for you and your family. There are lots of different childcare options across Torfaen for you to choose from. Torfaen Family Information Service (FIS) can inform you of the choices.
Did you know…..
You may qualify for help towards the costs of childcare if the childcare you use is registered. The Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) is responsible for the registration and regulation of childcare in Wales. You can check with the Family Information Service if your childcare provider is registered with CIW. You can also request the registration number directly from your provider.
The following information provides sources of help with childcare costs. Only general information is given, as eligibility depends on circumstances and income. Parents therefore need to liaise with the contacts given to receive more detailed information on accessing this financial help.
- Government Advice
- Childcare Offer for Wales
- PaCE
- Student Finance Wales
- Money Advice Service
- Gingerbread
Child Benefit
New baby – what tax credits are you entitled to?
Tax Free Childcare Scheme
Children with disabilities – can you get extra Child Tax Credit?
Childcare vouchers and tax credits – better off Calculator
Childcare Vouchers – Paying for Childcare
Any new changes to your Childcare – may effect your Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit
What is the Childcare Offer?
The Childcare Offer for Wales is a Welsh Government initiative and will provide eligible working parents with 30 hours of early education and childcare, for 3 to 4 year olds only.
Children starting nursery in January 2022 can apply from 8th November 2021. Please do not apply before this date as early applications will be rejected.
Please note that funding for the Offer cannot be received until the application has been completed and a start date issued. Please note funding will not be backdated.
How many hours am I eligible for?
The Childcare Offer for Wales is a combination of Foundation Phase Nursery (FPN) (between 10 – 12.5 hours) and childcare (between 17.5 – 20 hours), for up to 48 weeks per year.
Parents are not required to access their early education entitlement as a prerequisite to accessing the childcare element of the offer, however, their entitlement will include these hours whether they access them or not.
If additional Foundation Phase Nursery hours are offered/accepted the amount of childcare hours will be reduced accordingly.
Who is eligible for the Offer?
Eligible working parents will need to be earning the equivalent of 16 hours at national minimum wage, national living wage or more, and be a resident in Torfaen. An upper income cap for working parents is set at £100,000. If part of a couple, both parents must be working and meet this requirement. If either parent earns above this upper income cap, they will not be eligible for the offer.
Where parents have separated but do not share equal custody of the child, the parent with primary custody will be eligible to take up the offer (if they meet the eligibility criteria). Where parents share equal custody one parent will need to be nominated as the lead parent for the offer.
Parents, guardians, step-parents and live-in partners will all need to meet the eligibility criteria in order for a child living within that household to be able to take up the offer.
How do I apply?
If you have checked the eligibility criteria please apply online at http://bit.ly/ChildcareOfferTorfaen
Please note that children starting nursery education in 2022 cannot apply for the Offer until approximately 6 weeks prior to the start of the nursery term.
Children starting nursery January 2022 can typically expect to apply from November 2021.
Children starting nursery April 2022 can typically expect to apply from March 2022 .
Children starting nursery September 2022 can typically expect to apply from July 2022.
In order to complete the application you will need to submit copies of:
- Childs birth certificate or Passport
- Proof of address, this could be a utility bill or council tax bill
- Last three months wage slips. (If part of a couple you must each provide your last three months’ wage slips, or self-employed earnings evidence. However, if one of you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, you will need to provide evidence of this).
Please visit our Facebook page www.Facebook.com/TorfaenFIS for updates about the offer.
Please note that children whose 3rd birthday is between between 1st April – 31st August will not be eligible for the Offer until the September.
How long does the application process take?
If you have submitted an application you can typically expect acknowledgement of your application from Blaenau Gwent Childcare Team within 10 working days.
Parents will be issued with a unique reference number and a childcare booking form that will need to be completed with your chosen childcare setting. Please note that funding for the Offer will not begin until a start date has been confirmed and the application process has been completed. Funding will not be back dated.
If you have any queries about the status of your application please contact Blaenau Gwent Childcare Offer Team on 01495 355584 or by Email ChildcareOffer@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.
For general inquiries about the Childcare Offer call Torfaen Family Information Service Freephone 0800 0196 330 or email fis@torfaen.gov.uk
Exceptions to eligibility:
There are some circumstances in which parents will be able to access the offer when they don’t meet the eligibility criteria:
- Where one or both parents are temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay or are in receipt of statutory maternity / paternity pay.
- Where one parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits or has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring;
- Newly self-employed parents
- Kinship carers, family and friends carers who have taken responsibility for a child or step child who is not their own because:
- The child has no parents or has parents who are unable to care for the child
- It is likely that the child would otherwise be looked after by a local authority because of concerns in relation to the child’s welfare
Can I use more than one childcare provider?
Yes, you can use up to TWO registered childcare settings per day in addition to their nursery education setting in any given day during term time. You can use only use two registered childcare settings during school holidays.
How much childcare can I access during school holidays?
The Offer will cover up to 48 weeks per year, this includes 9 weeks of school holidays. During 9 weeks of these school holidays parents can apply up to 30 hours of funded childcare.
During an academic school year parents could be entitled to 39 weeks of Foundation Phase Nursery Education and funded childcare. However parents can only access funded childcare for 9 out of the 13 school holiday weeks. Therefore parents could be responsible for fees outstanding during, both, term time and school holidays.
Parents can choose which holiday periods they would like to use, however holiday weeks are limited to 3 weeks per term. Parents are advised to speak to their childcare provider to ensure they know how many hours they are claiming during some holiday periods.
Parents, Childcare and Employment (PaCE) may help by:
Identifying childcare options
Funding childcare Identifying training requirements Getting you closer to the workplace Please contact:
Parent Employment Adviser - Cwmbran area 07342 072863
Parent Employment Adviser - Pontypool and Blaenavon area
Childcare Grant and Other Support for Student Parents in Full Time Higher Education