Tax free childcare

It's 20% up to a maximum of £2000 a year, per child. once you use that it's gone I'm afraid x

@Jes i know it's £500 per quarter but just wondered how you manage, our nursery bill 5days a week would be £900 a month so will go over the £500. I personally thinks it needs to be raised

It's £500 worth of free money. So if you pay in £8000 they top it up to £10000. We pay about £800 a month (with the top up, and I haven't used up the full £500 a quarter yet. At £900 a month your total is11800 a year so you will use it all and be over I'm afraid. X

From my workings out I'll be around £85 a quarter over the £500 so i assume the last month I'll just have to pay the extra £85 with no help

I think thats how it works, it just keeps topping it up until there is no budget left! X

Yep, once you’ve used it all for the quarter, you make up any shortfall with no help. We were doing this before being eligible for funded hours. Of course it would be lovely if they raised it, but as they’ve just drastically increased the amount of funded childcare hours available for working parents, I can’t see them doing anything else imminently! We’re entitled to more help than there historically ever has been, even if the costs still feel extortionate sometimes! Does your £900 factor in the funded 30h? My son does 4 days a week and his bill is nowhere near that (I know it also depends on where you live and your rates though of course!)

@Chloe yeh we have 22hrs as we spread it across the year, a full day is £67.50 a funded day is £16.50. 2 funded days a 3 fulls days. I pay arpund £500-£600 now with 3 to 4 days a week

I thought funded days were free? Ours are x

@Jes nope most nurseries charge a consumable rate for meals etc. You are very lucky that your nursery don't charge. Most charge as what they receive from the government doesn't cover their costs or hourly rate