Apply for 30 hours childcare for your 3 or 4-year old

Yes, but we don't recommend moving your child during the academic term as it is in a child’s best interest to be settled with a provider.

You can change your provider during half terms but talk to your provider first to check what impact this might have on your funding. If you're paying for extra hours you could be committed to taking these hours at your current provider for as long as your contract states.

You can't change your provider if you're in a grace period. This is where you are allowed to take your funded hours with your current provider until the end of term if you become no longer eligible.

If it is an exceptional circumstance such as moving house then funding may be transferred with agreement from Buckinghamshire Council. If you do wish to move your child, then you need to do this before the start of term and you'll need to give your current provider notice of your plans as soon as you can.

Yes, you can spread your funded hours across more than one provider, even those outside Buckinghamshire. Look at the 30 hours as two 15-hour blocks.

You could take each 15-hour block at different providers, either as term-time or stretched but you cannot mix the two up. For example, you could not split the hours within each 15 blocks as term-time with one provider and stretched hours with another. You can, however, take one 15 hour block as term-time with one provider and the other 15-hour block as stretched hours with another provider.

You must make sure that both providers know that your child is attending elsewhere.

Yes, but will need to pay for any additional hours. If you are a working parent then Tax-Free Childcare could help you pay for them. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

Only the childcare itself is funded. You'll have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.

You may also have to pay for the lunch hour. This will differ depending on each provider's offer. Check what your provider's offer includes.

Yes. The review and appeals process is managed by HM Revenues and Customs and you can contact them by phone on 0300 1234 097

Providers are being encouraged to be flexible and explore ways in which they can meet the needs of their families.

This could be easier for some providers than others depending on their location and facilities. Discuss your working patterns with your local providers to see which can accommodate you favourably.

You could also use more than one provider and split the funding. (You would have to make sure that they are aware of this if you choose to do so).