if it is a registered care provider, you need to be working or studying at least 15 hours per week and earning minimum wage from your business (so taking at least a wage of 13.50 ball park per hour for those 15 hours) otherwise you won't qualify for registered care.

you have up to a year to claim registered care, so can claim in a lump sum - most people wait til the end of term (even if you pay in advance, you can only claim what has been used) or every six months to make it worth while to claim