Funded childcare for working foster carers
Children in foster care who are aged 9 months to 4-years-old could also be eligible for the working parent entitlements, provided the foster parent is in paid work outside their fostering role and does not expect their adjusted net income to exceed £100,000.
There is no minimum income requirement for foster parents, however the local authority responsible for the child must confirm it is satisfied that the foster parent's paid work other than their fostering role is consistent with the child's care plan.
Before you apply for funded childcare for fostered children you should speak to the child's social worker and confirm they believe accessing childcare is in the best interests of the child.
Eligibility criteria
The following criteria must be met for 30 hours of funded childcare to be awarded to a fostered child:
- Herefordshire is the corporate parent of the child. If the corporate parent is another local authority, you must contact them for an application form
- It is in the child's care plan that attending a childcare setting for the additional hours is in their best interest
- All foster parents in the household are working outside of fostering, or if a couple, at least one parent is working and the other parent is in receipt of a qualifying benefit
- The foster parents are British or Irish nationals or have a visa allowing them to have access to public funds
- The foster parents must live in England
- The foster parent(s) must be in paid work, in addition to foster caring
- Non-foster parents within the household must be:
- Working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the minimum wage or national living wage
- Earning less than £100,000 per year
How to apply
Applications must be submitted in advance. Funding will begin from the term following the child's ninth month, provided the application has been received.
Foster carers must make their application with the aid of the child's social worker. To receive an application form please email eef@herefordshire.gov.uk Do not apply to the government's Best Start in Life.
| Applications submitted between | Funding can start from |
|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | 1 January |
| 1 January to 31 March | 1 April |
| 1 April to 31 August | 1 September |
Once an application is approved, a unique code will be issued to the foster parent(s). To remain valid, this code must be renewed every three months. If the family's circumstances change and no longer meet the eligibility criteria, the code will be deactivated, and the fostered child will no longer qualify for funded childcare.