Childcare Offer – information for childcare providers

Information for childcare providers

Childcare Offer – Information for childcare providers

Childcare Offer for Wales childcare funding is available to families in Wales who are:

  • Employed or self-employed earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage, up to £100,000 gross per year. Both Parents
  • Enrolled on a further education course or a higher education undergraduate or postgraduate course that is at least 10 weeks in length. One or both parents. The course must be run by a publicly funded college or university to qualify.
    or in Further Education.

The Offer is available following the term of the child’s 3rd birthday up until the September of their 4th birthday.

If a child at your setting has additional needs and requires Enhanced Provision, there is extra funding available. If you are aware of a child who may need additional support, please contact your Early Years Advisor.

About the Childcare Offer

Families can claim up to 30 hours of Early Years and Childcare Funding per week for 48 weeks of the year. This is made up by:

  • A minimum of 10 Hours of Early Years Education provision plus up to 20 hours of Childcare Offer funding term time.
  • During school holidays, 30 hours of childcare funding can be claimed.

Early Years Education hours will need to be claimed separately via the school admission website: Apply for a place at a school

Childcare providers do not need to deliver both the early education and childcare elements of the offer. Some children will continue to access early education in maintained settings (nursery classes in schools).

How do I become a Childcare Offer provider

To register as a Childcare Offer provider, you must be registered with the Care Inspectorate for Wales (CIW).

You will then need to register your Childcare setting direct with Welsh Government via their Childcare Offer website. Please visit:  Register your childcare setting to get the Childcare Offer for Wales | GOV.WALES

We will then be notified of you as a provider who is registered to deliver Childcare Offer places.

If you need support, please contact Early Years Hub.

How families apply funding

All parents wishing to receive Childcare Offer for Wales funded childcare will need to apply through the on-line National Digital Service.

Visit the Childcare Offer – Information for parents section for details about eligibility and how parents apply.

How childcare providers claim the funding

A parent must have an approved application to be able to claim a Childcare Offer funded placement. Once the application is approved the parent will set up an online agreement. You must sign in to your Childcare Offer for Wales account and approve this agreement before a placement can start.

Once the agreement is set up the child will appear on your weekly timesheet. This can also be viewed by signing in to your Childcare Offer for Wales account. If a child is not on the timesheet, funding is not in place.

Please refer to the latest Welsh Government Guidance: Childcare for 3 and 4 year olds: policy guidance for providers | GOV.WALES

Changes to parent circumstances

It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to tell the Welsh Government if their circumstances change. They do this by logging into their online account. Depending on the change, this might mean they are no longer eligible for funding.

The Welsh Government also carry out termly checks on all claimants to ensure they are still eligible.

It is crucial they respond to these eligibility checks to avoid having their funding withdrawn.  Further details about this process visit the Changes in your circumstances and eligibility checks webpage.

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