Returning from Overseas? – get your 30 Hours Free Childcare 

The  Directorate of Children & Young People (DCYP) has worked closely with DfE and HM Revenue & Customs to ensure Service parents returning to England from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and overseas can apply for a 30 hours childcare code before they arrive back in England. This will ensure that entitlements are not missed, especially when parents move mid-term and would not be able to apply within termly deadlines set by DfE. 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 manual 30 hours code for their return. Parents must call the Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097 and request a manual application.  More information is available here.  

Vehicle Finance We continue to get emails from personnel who have taken out a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) to buy a car and then find that when they are posted overseas, they can’t take the car with them and are required to pay a considerable sum to get out of the contract.   All personnel are advised to look very closely at the terms and conditions of any finance deal they sign up to and ensure that they tell the salesman that they are in the Armed Forces and have a liability to serve overseas.  This will help in the event of any future dispute.  With the help of the Finance Leasing Association, we have managed to resolve many of the cases favourably, but there is absolutely no guarantee!  There’s some good advice about PCPs and alternative forms for car purchase from  Money Saving Expert.com.   

And finally, as always, if you have comments, suggestions or feel that you have been disadvantaged as a result of being in the Armed Forces, please email the Covenant team on [email protected]