FREE Childcare Regulations

 

Here at Wenvoe Playgroup, we are signed up to the Welsh Government’s 30 Hour FREE Childcare, for children the term after their third birthday who live in Cardiff. All Cardiff Children who are eligible, are now beginning to access their FREE 17.5 HOURS OF CARE.

From April this year, the ‘30 Hour FREE Childcare offer’ is coming to the Vale of Glamorgan including Wenvoe, so we want to be sure that you are ready. This is sooner than originally thought/planned.

The 30-hour FREE care is offered as 12.5 hours of Nursery Education and 17.5 hours of Care. You can use the 17.5 hours between Playgroup, Day-care or a Childminder as long as the provider is registered with Care Inspectorate Wales.

If the Government are offering 17.5 hours of ‘Free Play’ and you fit the criteria, then why not take them up on it? Some children on our books apply for as little as 4 hours, it’s all about what your Child needs. We have attached some examples for a better understanding.

As long as Parents fit the following criteria your child may receive FREE care from April 2019 if living in The Vale of Glamorgan.

It is available to Children the term after their 3rd Birthday. If your child is 3 between:

* 1st Sept – 31 Dec they will be eligible in January

* 1st Jan – 31st March they will be eligible in April (after the Easter Hols)

* 1st April – 31st August – they will be eligible in September

  • if the Child is living with 2 parents, both parents must work a minimum of 16 hours or more per week at National Minimum Wage (NMW)
  • if the Child is living with 1 parent, then they must work a minimum of 16 hours or more per week at NMW.
  • if you earn more than £100,000 per parent then the Child is not eligible.

 

Please contact Cardiff Family Information Centre (FIS) for those living in Cardiff Tel: 02920 351700 E-mail@fis@cardiff.gov.uk

or from 4th March 2019 The Vale Family Information Centre (FIS) for those living in The Vale of Glamorgan Tel: 01446 704704 E-mail: fis@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Before applying for the offer, please contact us here at the Playgroup on 02920 597494 to ensure that we have availability. We have limited space at this time and will need to employ further staff perhaps to support your needs. We have a waiting list for Summer Term at this time due to the funding being rolled out from April.

We have children with us at this time from Cardiff who are benefitting from our wrap around service with Gwenfo Nursery and are receiving up to 17.5 hours of their time FREE at Playgroup.

 

Please see the example for guidance on how this works for us with Cardiff families. Your Child could benefit with 4 days wrap around care at £0.00 or for as little as £3.75 per week, attend 5 mornings 9 to 1pm and onto Gwenfo Nursery.

A contract will have to be completed prior to taking up the offer and your placement confirmed at the Playgroup. We expect to be very busy.

If you require further information then please contact us at wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com

 

If you search www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare it will advise you that you can also use your workplace voucher scheme (if already enrolled) and Tax-Free Childcare vouchers to top up any hours or fees above 17.5hrs.