Eligible working parents (at least one of whom is a member of the Armed Forces) with children aged between 4-11 years old (4-16 years old if in receipt of certain disability benefits) in school (including home educated children) will be able to claim back the costs of regulated wraparound childcare for a maximum of 20 hours per week, per eligible child, during term time.
Eligibility - Summary
Location. This scheme is open to all eligible Armed Forces families where the Service person (SP):
• Is serving overseas unaccompanied with the family resident in the UK. The WAC provider must also be within the UK; or
• Is serving overseas within the European Economic Area and Switzerland (EEA&S);
• Is serving overseas with a child attending a Defence Childcare Services (DCS) school or setting for before or after school childcare. Service Personnel. This scheme is open to Regular and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel on Full, Limited and Home Commitments. Children.
• Child(ren) aged 4-11 years old (4-16 years old if in receipt of certain disability allowances)
• Child(ren) in full time education including home education • Active Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account in place Related information:
• Defence Information Note (DIN): 2022DIN01-071-Wraparound Childcare (WAC) which service personnel can access through DefNet.
• DIN Annex F: Interim WAC Overseas SP eligibility criteria flowcharts: Figures 1 and 2 - attachments refer.
Further Information
To check if you can claim funding for up to 20 hours per week of before or after school care:
• Service personnel can visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or DefenceConnect for further information including step by step guides on how to register and submit a claim (SSUGs), Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) accounts, ‘grossing up’ and Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs).
• Unit HR staff can visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or DefenceConnect for further information about how to approve registrations, recover and audit claims (BPGs), HR guidance and FAQs. • Family members can find more information by searching ‘Wraparound Childcare’ on Discover My Benefits Further information will be added to the following areas prior to January 2025:
• Discover My Benefits website: search Wraparound Childcare
• The defence Childcare Information page on defnet & Defence Connect *Please note that the existing Overseas Nursing Authority (ONA) provision is a separate scheme offering 15 hours free childcare (30 hours funded childcare) for working families with child(ren) aged 9 months to 3 years old and all children aged 3 and 4 years old.