Childcare for serviceService children

Wraparound childcare

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

Feedback from AFCAS and FAMCAS highlighted that a lack of good quality, enriching and appropriate childcare has a significant impact on partner employment, which can influence Service personnel’s decisiondecisions on whether to stay in or leave the Armed Forces.

In recognition of the issues that some Service families can 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.scheme.

Eligible Service personnel (Tri-Service) can register for up to 20 hours pera week,week per child,child during term time only (39 weeks per year) of wraparound childcare funding for 4 to 1111-year-old year old children (4 to 16 yearyears old if in receipt of certain disability benefits) attending before and after school childcare in the UK.

Eligibility criteria

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

How to claim/payment journeyclaim

Service families can check if they are eligible andfor howWAC and tofind out how claim WAC fundingfunding by visitingvisiting: the Discover My Benefits website.

WhoContact

• for toclaims contactqueries if- youcontact have questions

  Contact your unit HR team or admin office

• for anypolicy queries about claims. If you have questions about- the policy contact PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

FurtherFor more information on WAC can bevisit: viewed on the Defence childcare information page(accessible onby DefenceMOD Intranetpersonnel only) or on 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

FromFor Septemberthe 2017,current workingoffer parents in England with children aged 3 and 4guidance, yearsparents old,should arevisit entitledChildcare to 30 hours free childcareChoices.

You can also check to see if you’re eligible for for Tax-Free Childcare (TFC).). You can get get TFC at at the same time as 15 or 30 hourshours’ free childcare if you’re eligible for both.

Scotland

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

Wales

For the current childcare offer in WalesWales, parents should visit the Welsh Government website for further information and guidance..

Northern Ireland

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

Returning from overseas or moving within the UK

30 hourshours’ free childcare codes are not valid overseas.

If you are returning from overseas or moving within the UK, please visit theChildcare 30 hours free childcare pageChoices to find out what is available in your area. The application process and deadlines may vary.

Parents

Moving whoto areEngland

It’s duenot possible to returnapply tofor England,additional afterfunded achildcare termonline deadline,when butyou are awareoutside ofthe thisUK. moveIf prioryou toare adue termto deadline,return canto applyEngland forafter a manualterm 30deadline, hoursyou codecan for their return. Parents must call the Childcare Service helplineHelpline on 0300 123 4097 to apply for a free childcare code and request a manual application.

HMRCInformation willon determineterm eligibilitydeadlines and when to apply can be found in DIN - Funded childcare entitlements and processes for theoverseas schemeService personnel and UK-Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school-aged children (accessible by completingMOD apersonnel manualonly).

Moving applicationto atScotland

Funded theearly timelearning ofand thechildcare call.is Iffree to all eligibilityparents criteriaand areis met,funded by the parentScottish willGovernment. needYou tocan provideget HMRCup withto evidence1,140 hours of returningfunded toearly England.learning Thisand evidencechildcare willper beyear (around 30 hours a week in theterm formtime) ofif anyour assignmentchild orderis 3 or civilian4 postingyears notice.old. Some 2-year-old children are also eligible.

WhenFor thismore documentinformation, isplease receivedvisit andHelp verifiedpaying byfor HMRC,childcare.

Moving theto parentWales

Wales willprovides be30 issuedhours with a manualweek 30of hoursfree codeearly toeducation theand emailchildcare addressfor suppliedworking whenparents completingof thechildren application.aged HMRC3 willand provide4 detailsyears, for 48 weeks of wherethe toyear. sendApplications documentsare atprocessed timedirectly ofby application.each local authority’s Family Information Service (FIS) where the parents live.

TheFind 30your hourslocal codefamily caninformation beservice givenhere.

Moving to theNorthern childcareIreland

Parents providerof priorchildren to,aged or,3 uponand their4 returnyears can apply to England.receive You12.5 hours a week of free, also known as ‘funded’ pre-school education. This allocation can readonly 30be taken over 2.5 hours freeper childcareday, 2021DIN01-085 for5 moredays informationa week during term time.

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

For more information, please visit NI Direct.

Overseas

In overseas locations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides services (or access to services) that, so far as is reasonably practicable, conform in type, scope and standard to that required by legislation in England.

Parents will have access to the following:

15 and 30 hourshours’ free childcare

InFrom MODSeptember nursery2024 in Defence Children Services (DCS)-provided settings overseasoverseas, parents with children aged 39 andmonths to 4 years old can access 15 or 30 hourshours’ freefunded childcare (depending on eligibility).

To apply for 15 or 30 hourshours’ freefunded childcarechildcare, 2021DIN01-085visit: appliesDIN when- registeringFunded childcare entitlements and processes for theoverseas additionalService entitlement.personnel (DINsand areUK-Based onlyCivil accessibleServants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school-aged children (accessible by MOD personnel.)personnel only).

Applications should be forwarded to the relevant setting or school for approval and recording.

Overseas Nursery Authority (ONA)

ParentsFrom September 2024, parents of 3 and 44-year-old year-oldschildren in overseas locations,locations where MODDCS schools and settings are not available,available can apply for reimbursement of nurseryfunded feeschildcare hours by means of ONA.

For 2022DIN01-008more information, please visit Overseas Nursery Authority (ONA).

Childcare Vouchersvouchers

The Childcare Voucher schemeScheme is a salary sacrifice scheme, which closed to new joiners in October 2018.

ParentsArmed Forces families can visit the MOD childcare website for more information about the Childcare Voucher scheme.Scheme. DIN 2017DIN01-092 (serviceapplies.

MOD personnel)civilian orfamilies DINcan 2008DIN01-176contact (civilians)Edenred’s apply.customer service team by:

• phone: 0800 247 1233
• website: Edenred Childcare Vouchers

Childcare vouchers can only be used at nurseries or by childminders that are are MOD-approved, approved, regulated and inspected.

Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is a government scheme introduced on 21 April 2017 to help working parents with the cost of childcare and will, over time, replace the Armed Forces Childcare Voucher Scheme. Parents have the option to open an online account, which they can use to pay for childcare from an accredited and registered provider.

Parents can visit the Childcare Choices website to register. For further informationinformation, you can visit Tax-Free Childcare (TFC). andYou you can also use this step by step guide to claiming TFC.

WhilstWhile overseas, TFC can only be used at nurseries or by childminders that are MOD provided-provided (regulated and inspected). DIN inspected). 2022DIN01-102DIN - Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) Scheme for eligible working parents (Service personnel) applies (Service personnel only).applies.

Claim for Government TFC top up

If eligible for TFC and assigned to an overseas location within the European Economic Area (and Switzerland), where there is no access to MOD-provided provided schools and nurseries,settings, parents will be able to claim TFC top-up via a manual process.

An explanation of the process and the application form is contained within 2022DIN01-102DIN - Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) Scheme for eligible working parents (Service personnel) accessible(accessible internallyby viaMOD defnet.personnel only). A copy of the application form can also be obtained by emailing PEOPLE-AFFS-Child-Expenses@mod.gov.uk.

Universal Infant Free School Meals

The Department of Education announced that from September 2014 funding would be made available to enable state funded schools in England to offer a free meal to every primary school pupil in Reception classes, Year 1 and Year 2.

Service children in schools overseas in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 or their national equivalent are entitled to a free school meal. In some locations the schools will provide the mealmeal, but in others this may not be possible due to local conditions or restrictions. This provision is offered in line with English government legislation.

DIN 2022DIN01-009- Universal Infant Free School Meals applies.

Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

Details of how to apply for TFC/30 or 30 hours when in receipt of Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) will appear here in due course.