Additional Childcare Information
During school term time the Offer will be made up of at least 10 hours of early education per week. Over and above this, the exact split between early education hours and childcare hours will depend on the number of hours of early education offered by each individual school.
During school term time no child can receive more than a combined total of 30 hours of funded childcare and early education provision. For example, if a school offers 15 hours of early education provision per week, then a maximum of 15 hours of funded childcare can be provided in addition to this.
Children are entitled to three holiday weeks for each full term they access the offer (maximum of 9 holiday weeks per school year). All children are entitled to 30 hours funded childcare during their chosen holiday weeks.
HOLIDAY WEEK NUMBER |
KNOWN AS |
START |
END |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Autumn/October Half Term |
31/10/2022 |
06/11/2022 |
2 |
Christmas Holiday |
26/12/2022 |
01/01/2023 |
3 |
Christmas Holiday |
02/01/2023 |
08/01/2023 |
4 |
Spring/February Half Term |
20/02/2023 |
26/02/2023 |
5 |
Easter Holiday |
03/04/2023 |
09/04/2023 |
6 |
Easter Holiday |
10/04/2023 |
16/04/2023 |
7 |
Summer/Whitsun Half Term |
29/05/2023 |
04/06/2023 |
8 |
Summer Holiday Week 1 |
24/07/2023 |
30/07/2023 |
9 |
Summer Holiday Week 2 |
31/07/2023 |
06/08/2023 |
10 |
Summer Holiday Week 3 |
07/08/2023 |
13/08/2023 |
11 |
Summer Holiday Week 4 |
14/08/2023 |
20/08/2023 |
12 |
Summer Holiday Week 5 |
21/08/2023 |
27/08/2023 |
13 |
Summer Holiday Week 6 |
28/08/2023 |
03/09/2023 |
The Childcare Offer
The Childcare Offer for Wales provides up to 30 hours a week of funded Early Education and Childcare for eligible working parents of 3 to 4 year olds, for up to 48 weeks of the year.
The 30 hours
During school term time (39 weeks a year), the 30 hours are made up of Early Education (school) and funded Childcare in a registered provider of your choice. Within NPT children receive 12.5 hours of Early Education a week and a top up of 17.5 hours a week of funded Childcare. School hours cannot be replaced with Childcare hours.
Childcare providers
You can use any childcare provider which is Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) registered and signed up to deliver the Childcare Offer. You can find a list of registered Childcare Providers here.
Childcare funding through the school holidays
For up to 9 weeks of the year, parents will be allocated 3 weeks of holiday childcare provision per full term (not the day after a half term) they are eligible for the Offer. This will be delivered in registered non-maintained childcare settings only, such as private day nurseries, childminders, out of school childcare and sessional care.
Access to the offer for eligible families
The childcare element of the offer will start the full term (not the day after a half term) after your child’s third birthday until the September following their 4th birthday when they’re offered a full time education place.
Change in my employment circumstances
If your circumstances change, you could enter a ‘Temporary Exemption Period’ (TEP) for the Childcare Offer. A TEP of 8 weeks applies to parents whose circumstances change whilst in receipt of the Childcare Offer resulting in them falling out of eligibility. Parents are expected to inform their local authority and provider as soon as their circumstances change.