Am I eligible?
Eligibility criteria differs depending on the age of the child and the employment status of the parent(s).
Eligibility criteria for parents of 3-4-year-old and 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support, for the Universal entitlement of 15 hours funded childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
Regular Service, Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel or a UK Based Civil Servants posted overseas or Specially Recruited for Overseas Service.
Assigned overseas with accompanying children and there is no DCS provided school or setting for any 3 or 4-year-old or 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support.
Using a childcare provider that is registered, regulated, and inspected by the host nation.
Eligibility criteria for parents of 3-4-year-old children for 30 hours of funded childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year; and from September 2024, parents of 9 months to 3-year-old children for 15 hours of funded childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
Regular or Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel and UK Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) posted overseas or Specially Recruited for Overseas Service.
Assigned overseas to a location where there is no suitable DCS provided school / setting available for their accompanying children.
Both parents or a sole parent in a lone parent family, meet the minimum earnings threshold of earning the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the UK national minimum wage.
Either parent or a sole parent in a lone parent family does not exceed the maximum earning threshold of £100,000.
Using a childcare provider that is registered, regulated, and inspected by the host nation.
What is this for?
This is to ensure that you aren’t disadvantaged when you are assigned overseas in an area that doesn’t have MOD provided DCS schools or settings (or they have no capacity), that provide childcare for 9 months to 4-year-olds in line with that provided in England.
You can only claim this reimbursement if you are using registered, regulated and inspected childcare settings.
What do I get?
All Regular and Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel and UK Based Civil Servants posted overseas, or Specially Recruited for Overseas Service will be refunded for the Universal entitlement of 570 hours of childcare fees over a 12-month period for each 3-4-year-old or 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support (term time only).
If both parents or a sole parent in a lone parent family, meet the minimum earnings threshold, you will be refunded for the cost of up to 1140 hours of childcare fees over a 12-month period for each 3 and 4-year-old (term time only). If just one parent in a two-parent family is working, you will be refunded 570 hours. 3–4-year-old children become eligible from the term following their third birthday.
From September 2024, if both parents or a sole parent in a lone parent family, meet the minimum earnings threshold, you will be refunded for the cost of up to 570 hours of childcare fees over a 12-month period for each 9 months to 3-year-old child (term time only). 9 months to 3-year-old children become eligible from the term after they turn 9 months old.
In addition to tuition fees, you will also be reimbursed for:
any registration/enrolment fee(s);
processing fees;
insurance fees;
material fees.
Upcoming addition to funded childcare hours:
From September 2025 eligible working families will receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare for children aged 9 months old to school age.
Returning to the UK
Moving to England
Parents are unable to apply for their additional funded childcare entitlement online whilst posted outside of England. To allow parents to not lose out on this entitlement, a manual process is in place to ensure parents can access a free childcare code. This enables parents to plan for their return.
Parents who are due to return to England, after a term deadline, but are aware of this move prior to a term deadline, can apply for a free childcare code for their return. Parents must call the Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097 and request a manual application. Information on term deadlines and when to apply can be found in 2024DIN01-085: Funded childcare entitlements and processes for overseas Service personnel and UK Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school aged children.
Moving to Scotland
Funded early learning and childcare is free to all parents, funded by the Scottish Government. You can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year (around 30 hours a week in term time) if your child is 3 or 4 years old. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible. Please visit Scottish government pages for the latest information. Help paying for childcare - MyGov.Scot
Moving to Wales
Wales provides 30 hours a week of free early education and childcare for working parents of children aged 3 and 4 years for 48 weeks of the year. Applications are dealt with directly by each Local Authority’s Family Information Service (FIS) where the parents reside.
Moving to Northern Ireland
Parents of children aged 3 and 4 years can apply to receive 12.5 hours per week of free, also known as funded, preschool education. This allocation can only be taken over 2.5 hours per day, 5 days a week, during term time. Places are provided by nursery schools, primary schools with nursery units and some voluntary and private providers. The places cannot be provided by childminders. Please visit the NI Direct website for further information.
How do I apply/claim?
1
Submit application form
In locations with a DCS-provided school or setting, you would be expected to use this childcare/early learning offer. This is managed locally by the DCS provider.
Complete the Funded Childcare Application Form at Annex C of 2024DIN01-085: Funded childcare entitlements and processes for overseas Service personnel and UK Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school aged children and forward it to the Head Teacher/Early Years Manger.
Where there is no DCS-provided school or setting or they are unable to meet the requirements the parent must complete the Funded Childcare Application Form at Annex C of 2024DIN01-085: Funded childcare entitlements and processes for overseas Service personnel and UK Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school aged children and forward it to the Commanding Officer, Commander or Head of Location, before enrolling their child(ren) at the school/setting and claiming ONA.
The same requirement to complete the Application Form will apply for children of working parents who become entitled to free childcare from the age of 9 months to school starting age from September 2025.
2
Claim refund
Once the application for ONA and eligibility is confirmed and signed off by their Commanding Officer, Commander or Head of Location, applicants may begin claiming ONA. See 2024DIN01-085: Funded childcare entitlements and processes for overseas Service personnel and UK Based Civil Servants (UKBCs) with accompanying pre-school aged children for the claims process. Claims must be made within 90 days of payment to provider.
3
Any questions?
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have a question not covered in the FAQs
Email your questions to:
People-AFFS-Child-Expenses@mod.gov.uk
