Period of eligibility for childcareE+W
27.—(1) A child is eligible for childcare under section 1 of the Act for the period—
(a)beginning with whichever of 1st January, 1st April or 1st September is the first date F1... after the day on which a declaration in respect of the child has effect, and
(b)ending [F2with the day] before the day on which the child ceases to be a qualifying child of working parents(1).
(2) A year begins with the date calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) for the purposes of determining in relation to the child whether the duty in section 1(1) of the Act has been discharged(2).
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 27(1)(a) omitted (12.5.2024) by virtue of The Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/527), regs. 1(b), 2(4)(a)
F2Words in reg. 27(1)(b) inserted (12.5.2024) by The Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/527), regs. 1(b), 2(4)(b)
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 27 in force at 1.12.2022, see reg. 1(b)
A young child ceases to be qualifying child of working parents if the child is looked after by a local authority (see regulation 13), no declaration in respect of the child has effect (see regulation 25) or the child ceases to satisfy the requirements of section 1(2)(a) or (b) of the Childcare Act 2016 (which define a qualifying child of working parents as a young child who is under compulsory school age and in England, respectively).
Section 1(7) of the Childcare Act 2016 requires the Secretary of State to set out in regulations when a year begins for the purposes of determining in relation to a child whether the duty in section 1(1) of that Act has been discharged.