Overseas Nursery Authority (ONA)
Published 16 December 2022
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The Offer
If the eligibility criteria in the Overseas Nursery Authority (ONA) DIN - (DIN Ref. 2022DIN01-008) is met, parents can apply for a refund for up to 30 hours free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. 15 and 30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds is provided free of charge in MOD schools and nurseries overseas.
ONA covers any compulsory costs occurred by parents such as registration fee and processing fee; optional summer camps are not covered. When posted to a country where the statutory school age is later, 30 hours of ONA can be claimed to replicate reception hours.
If you are applying for 30 hours free childcare by means of ONA, you will need to complete Annex A to the 30 hours DIN alongside your application for ONA. The ONA DIN (DIN Ref. 2022DIN01-008) and 30 hours free childcare DIN (DIN Ref. 2021DIN01-085) are accessible via Defence Intranet Defence Instructions and Notices - Home (sharepoint.com).
What parents need to do
- Identify a suitable setting.
- Check eligibility by reading DIN content.
- Get sign-off from Command/Head of Unit and keep supporting evidence/receipts for audit purposes.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
Regular Service personnel including FTRS (FC) and entitled MOD Civilians.
Children qualify from the term following their third birthday.
You can’t use ONA:
- When MOD settings with capacity can be accessed.
- When using Childminders or Nannies.
Fee-paying contractors cannot apply.
In overseas locations, where there is no access to MOD approved childcare providers, or those providers have no availability, parents with children aged three and four can claim 15 or 30-hours free child via ONA.