Free childcare hours are available to working parents for children from 9 months to 4 years who meet the criteria. Fostering is recognized as qualifying work to enable foster carers (in the case of a couple both must meet the criteria) to apply for the childcare hours in relation to their birth children and children for whom they have legal parental responsibility.
The additional hours are being rolled out in stages from:
It may be possible to use fewer hours per week for up to 52 weeks or to purchase top up hours; check with the child care provider.
See details of when and how you should apply on the government site, here.
In the meantime, all parents of 2, 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours support and if the child is 3 or 4 and if the parent (and their partner if applicable) are working they may be eligible for an additional 15 hours to bring the total to 30 hours.
Under a separate scheme, if the foster carer is on certain benefits they may be able to get help with child care costs of their own children up to 85% see link below for more information.
You can read more information in this article from MoneyHelper, here.
Foster carers who also work in addition to their fostering role can access the free childcare hours for a looked after child in their care provided they (and their partner if applicable) meet the requirements and have the consent of the local authority responsible for the child that this is consistent with their care plan. Foster carers should discuss this with their social worker.
For further information, visit the government site here.
In a separate scheme, 2 year olds can get free childcare if they:
You can read more information on this scheme on the government site, here.
