▌Potential obstacles on the Childcare Grant journey
Read our helpful guidance on how to help students deal with any potential issues in their childcare journey.

In order to avoid delays in receiving the Childcare Grant (CCG) for academic year 2016/17, students should send us their Childcare Grant Application Form (CCG1) as soon as possible. When it comes to proving their childcare charges, they need to make sure that they and their provider both complete and return the Childcare Costs Confirmation Form (CCG2) as soon as they can. They should make sure they have sent us copies of their children’s birth certificates with a copy of the student’s own tax credit award letter, universal credit letter or child benefit letter. This will mean that we have everything we need to award them a Childcare Grant.

How to avoid overpayments

SFE advises that students inform us of any change of circumstances, such as changes in childcare provider, how long they need the childcare for, any change of course (especially if they suspend or withdraw), any change of childcare estimates or anything else relating to the Childcare Grant (CCG) as soon as possible.

Discrepancies between what they estimate their childcare costs to be and what they actually pay is a common source of grant overpayment.

We’ll send them a CCG2 form as and when needed (after the end of each childcare period). If they don’t return this form, we’ll follow it up with a reminder text informing them that if they don’t return the CCG2 form, their Childcare Grant will be removed. The CCG2 form allows the student to confirm to us the costs they have been charged and ensures that they are receiving the correct entitlement. Please advise the student to complete the CCG2 form and return it to us as soon as possible to avoid overpayments.

If there are any differences in what they estimated their costs to be and what they actually were, we will adjust their future payments accordingly.

Third payment during the academic year

Students can occasionally be confused when they get their third payment, which is usually in April for a student on a September start date. One of the most common questions from students is why their final payment is lower than previous payments. In the final year, CCG covers the start of the academic year to the final week of the course, rather than to the end of the summer period, and this can result in lower payments compared to other years.

Help from practitioners

You can also make students aware that any failure to return CCG forms can result in them having their entitlement to CCG removed.

For more information, visit our practitioner website for detailed information on CCG.

Student can also visit the GOV.UK website to find out more about CCG.

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