Parents are reminded that they can apply for pre-school credit for 2013/14.
The scheme provides ?350 towards the cost of pre-school places to all parents of children who reach their fourth birthday between the start of this month and 31st August 2014.
An additional ?800 is available to parents of those who would be eligible for free school meals – i.e. in receipt of Employed Person’s Allowance, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
The credit – which is issued in the form of a certificate – can be spent with registered providers of child daycare who offer pre-school places.
Half the total credit can be used between now and February 2014 and the remaining balance, or the whole amount, can be used between March 2014 and August 2014.
The Government’s Customer First team administers the pre-school credit scheme.
Parents can apply for credit online via the Isle of Man Government website https://www.gov.im/categories/education,-training-and-careers/pre-school/pre-school-credit-online-application-form/ (or simply go to the front page of www.gov.im and click on ‘pre-school credit online application form’).
Copies of the application form can be downloaded from the site. Alternatively, forms can be collected from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Douglas, the DEC’s office at Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas, or by ringing 685959.
Completed forms can be emailed to customer.first@gov.im or posted to:
Customer First
Department of Community, Culture and Leisure
2nd Floor, Illiam Dhone House
2 Circular Road
Douglas, IM1 1PG
Tel: 01624 685959
A list of registered providers of child daycare that offer pre-school provision is available via the same weblink and from the Department of Social Care’s Registration and Inspections Service, 3/4 Hill Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1EF. Tel: 01624 642427.
The website also answers frequently asked questions, based on customer feedback.
For the year September 1 2012 to August 31 2013, 896 parents received pre-school credit, 216 of them at the higher rate and 13 of them partly at the higher rate. Already so far, 537 parents have received pre-school credit for 2013-14, 135 of them at the higher rate.
