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Month of the Military Child

RN FPS HQ — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:22:28 GMT

If you know of any extra support that is available to support Military Children and Young People, please add here.

Month of the Military Child 2023

RN Forum Moderator — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 08:09:53 GMT

April is the international month of the military child and we hope you have taken time to celebrate.

Did you know the official flower of the military child is the dandelion?

Today is Purple Day, a chance to show your support.

Show us how you supported today or at any time through this month by sharing your pictures here.

RN Residential 2023

RN FPS HQ — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:58:38 GMT

We are looking at holding a Residential for RN Young People, arriving on Monday lunchtime and leaving Friday lunchtime. Currently we will be looking at a contribution of £97 per child to attend. We would like to know if you would be happy to pay this?[embed:33ecb077-39b7-4078-9b1e-dc3f977a690b:9b84e82e-ac1f-4ed5-98c7-855633bf4bf2:question=Would%20you%20be%20happy%20to%20pay%20%C2%A397&description=&pollOptions=%5B%7B%22OptionId%22%3A%2271e2b557-7afa-4fe3-b4f8-14e893d2b7fb%22%2C%22Option%22%3A%22Yes%22%2C%22Ordinal%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22OptionId%22%3A%22e28fc7d8-d89d-4b7d-8a9b-f0d1f78cce1a%22%2C%22Option%22%3A%22No%22%2C%22Ordinal%22%3A1%7D%5D&expiredate=&ShowResultsConfiguration=1%2C1]

Month of the Military Child

Former Member — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 10:52:18 GMT

April is Month of the Military Child so I am running a competition open to all young people.

Armed Forces children can face challenges with parents in the Armed Forces. Yet these children are also an amazing asset to families, schools and the local community. The Month of the Military Child helps us remember this and helps us celebrate their achievements.

Please send pictures of the pieces of work along with the young person’s name and age to emer.flett@argyll-bute.gov.uk by Friday 28th April

[View:/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/116/Monthotmc.pdf:320:240]

Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN FPS HQ — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 20:55:47 GMT

Whilst we await further information regarding Wrap Around Childcare please feel free to pop any questions in here and we will feed into the WAC Team

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

AnnaB20 — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 07:40:29 GMT

Hello, I hope you don’t mind the below question here….my husband serves in RN and because of relocation, , I lost my job. Hopefully soon I am going to be employed again. Our little one turns 4 in about two weeks time and she attends preschool full time. For this we can claim the 30hrs free childcare as we are still eligible for this (soon to be reconfirmed). If all goes well, and I get the job I applied for, we will need to book after school club. It would be great help if we could apply for WAC support for those hours she spends in the after school club. Could you please advise if this is an option at all and if so, where do we start? Many thanks

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN FPS HQ — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 08:47:22 GMT

Good Morning.

Thank you for your comments and concerns which we are communicating with the WAC Team.

Please do keep this conversation going.

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

ShellyCozens — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 20:55:10 GMT

My husband has been using his MODnet laptop to try to access the links on the letter in the forum. The links are blocked! They can't be accessed from a civvi system.

The email sent to his work address takes us to an excel file. There's messages about enabling macros but the yellow warning banner doesn't appear anywhere. The spreadsheet to enter the details is locked so we can't edit. Have just spent the last hour going round and round in circles.

The first email address supplied then suggested a second email address which has an out of office notice until the 26th September! When he has asked the writers in ship he gets shrugged shoulders, they don't know because they're not trained!

Many aren't even bothering because of constant issues with registering. Where exactly should we go for help when he's going back to sea and I can't access anything myself!?

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

WHookway — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:02:57 GMT

Hi, my husband is currently on deployment with the submarine service and I'm unsure of an exact return date. I like to apply for the WAC scheme. Do I have to wait for his return or can I apply for it myself? If so, how do I go about it please? Thank you

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 14:15:12 GMT

Hi Matthoey1664 , we are expecting further information to be published very soon, which will hopefully answer your question. If this is not the case then you can email the WAC team at People-AFFS-WAC-FRO-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

Matthoey1664 — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 11:26:17 GMT

Hi. Having applied for TFC accounts for my children it states that you must stop Salary Sacrifice payments within 90 days. Is the WAC likely to be up and running by then and if not, what happens with my SSF payments?

Thanks

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:57:30 GMT

Hi Claire87 , The WAC scheme is for Service Personnel (Regular and Full Time Reserve Service Full Commitment) assigned within the UK or serving on an unaccompanied assignment overseas, involuntarily, with the family residing in the UK. So as long as all the other eligibility criteria is met you should be eligible. The Discover My Benefits link contains useful information about WAC. Discover My Benefits WAC Link

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

Claire87 — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:31:49 GMT

Hi. We live in Wales, husband is based in Portsmouth. Are we entitled to this too please?

Thanks

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 10:54:37 GMT

Hi Rachael86 , sorry for delay in getting a response to you. We have been in touch with the WAC team and the response is below:

A family cannot have a Tax-Free Childcare account at the same time as using salary sacrifice childcare vouchers (such as AFCVS), please see more info on Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK.

Therefore, parents must make an informed decision about which scheme best suits them and could use the childcare calculator (link is provided below) to work out which type of support is more beneficial for their family and/or seek independent financial advice if needed. Please note, if parents choose to leave the AFCVS, they will be unable re-join the scheme.

Should you choose to leave the Childcare Vouchers Scheme and join the WAC Scheme:

You must tell your employer within 90 days of applying for Tax-Free Childcare to stop your childcare vouchers or directly contracted childcare. If you have a partner who gets vouchers or directly contracted childcare, they’ll need to tell their employer to stop this within 90 days too. The employer will then stop the vouchers or directly contracted childcare. You may have to give HMRC evidence of leaving the childcare voucher scheme. For example, a copy of the letter telling your employer you’re leaving the childcare voucher scheme.

Important to note:

Vouchers accumulated before joining TFC could be used towards childcare (including holiday care) for all children in the family, or for younger children who are not eligible to join the WAC yet.

Parents should check with their voucher company whether there is a limit to the time the vouchers must be used.

Refunds for the purchased vouchers are not possible under salary sacrifice contracts. Once your pay has been exchanged for a childcare voucher under contract, it is generally not possible to reverse it back through the payroll. In circumstances where a refund is allowed, the refund would be returned to your employer and paid to you through payroll and would be subject to tax and national insurance in the normal way. Parents should check what the process is with their voucher company.

Kind regards, Jim RN FPS Duty Moderator

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:51:41 GMT

Good afternoon Annie.

A reply has come from the WAC Team which doesn't really cover your exact wording in your question above.

They have said the following:

"Full details of what can be claimed for children with disabilities can be found at Section 17 of the DIN. This also lists the proof required to be able to claim a higher allowance. Section 18 lists eligibility requirements for Providers. SP should be made aware the DIN and read and understand all eligibility criteria"

Section 17 / 18 do not mention about hired help affecting any WAC application.

Copied below in full:

Section 17 - Disabled Children.

Children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment (Scotland only) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only), or if they are certified as blind or severely sight-impaired, will be eligible for a higher maximum allowance. For these children the starting age remains 4 but the child retains eligibility until their 17th birthday. To qualify for the higher allowance disabled children in receipt of these allowances must be registered as disabled during the registration process, and supporting evidence must be provided.

Section 18 - Eligible Providers.

As well as the eligibility criteria for parent(s) and children HMRC stipulates that the childcare provider must be Ofsted (or equivalent) registered and that payment is made through the TFC account to the provider12. This will ensure that a provider is regulated and will help to minimise the use of unregistered and unregulated childcare provision. Service personnel must also record their provider(s) during the registration process.

The DIN being referred to is 2022DIN01-079. This can only be accessed through MOD Networks.

I'm sorry it is not the answer you are requiring. Contacting them direct may prompt a better worded response. The email address is: people-affs-wac-fro-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Regards

Colin - Duty RN FPS Moderator

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

Rachael86 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 20:38:19 GMT

Hi,

I have a 2 year old where the tax free childcare works for her, however, the WAP would be perfect for our 7 year old in school. Can we still apply for the WAP for our 7 year old and keep the tax free for our 2 year old?

It doesn't explain very well on the website of this is allowed and the calculator hasn't been any help either?

We are based in Portsmouth and my husband is serving in Yeovil

Many thanks

Rachael

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:38:45 GMT

Hi Natalie, the latest details we have are included in the announcement Wrap Around Childcare - Further Information . The announcement should answer the majority of questions.

The extract below is from the announcement.

1. Make sure their child(ren) is registered on JPA

2. Apply for a Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account for every child, aged 4 – 11 years, that they plan to claim for.

3. When step 1 and 2 is complete, register their child(ren) on the Defence Childcare portal from early September 2022 (link will be shared closer to the time).

Hopefully we will receive more information about the Defence Childcare portal link shortly.

Kind regards, Jim RN FPS Duty Moderator

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

Natalie90 — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:35:03 GMT

is there any news on this yet as wel have to pay a full first term of wrap around car in a week or so and trying to figure out how i sort this out for the free care?

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

Natalie90 — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:34:21 GMT

how and when can we apply for this as starting to worry a bit where i havent seen anything and our som starts school in a few weeks im goong to have to fork out the terms wrap around

New online mental health and wellbeing support for children (aged 11 – 19)

Former Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:03:00 GMT

There is a new online mental health and wellbeing support for children (aged 11 – 19) with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government.

To find out more please click on the following link https://www.kooth.com/mod

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN FPS HQ — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 07:45:03 GMT

Hi Threeblondeboys I have push your question to the WAC Team and will add the response to this chat once received.

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN FPS HQ — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 07:43:58 GMT

HI JennyFrancis I have looked into this and the reply from the WAC Team is:

In order to be eligible, the Service person and their partner must be in paid employment or starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days, and have a weekly income equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage. As you are in full time education, and in line with existing Government policy, you will not be eligible to join the WAC scheme.

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:57:07 GMT

Apologies for the delay with a response. This has only just popped up.

You will need to direct this query to the WAC Team. Email them using - People-AFFS-WAC-FRO-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Regards,

Colin - Duty RN FPS Moderator

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

JennyFrancis — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 11:55:09 GMT

Hi, I am currently serving and due to leave in September after 11 years. My husband is remaining in service and is drafted in Portsmouth (away from our home in Plymouth). I will begin studying midwifery in September, and our son will teach school age next year whilst I am still in full time education. I have looked into the process of applying for WAC, which states you need a tax free childcare account, however, we will not be eligible for this whilst I am studying. Is there any other way to apply for WAC if one parent is in full time further education?

RE: Wrap Around Childcare (WAC)

RN Forum Moderator — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:47:42 GMT

Hi Annie, Thanks for using the discussion area to raise your question. If you email our Information Office address rnrm-wio@royalnavymail.mod.uk one of the team will be able to assist in providing information and guidance on what support is available. The team will be back in office on Monday when they will pick up on this. Kind regards, Jim RN FPS Duty Moderator