30 Hours free/funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

Your eligibility depends on:

• whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
  
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
  
• your child’s age
• your immigration status

You, and any partner, must each expect to earn:

• on average at least 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage each
• or earn less than £100,000 a year each.

In a two-parent household:

• both parents must meet the requirements relating to employment and earnings.
  
• only one parent needs to meet the residence requirement.

You may be eligible if you, or your partner, are on:

• maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
  

You can still get 30 hours free/funded childcare at the same time as claiming:

• Universal Credit,
  
• tax credits,
  
• childcare vouchers
  
• Tax-Free Childcare
  

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get:

• Incapacity Benefit,
  
• Severe Disablement Allowance,
  
• Carer’s Allowance
  
• Contribution based Employment and Support Allowance

If you foster your child, speak to your social worker and the early years funding team (020 8583 6421)

When can I access 15 hours?

Children become eligible from the term after turning 3 years old and a parent has successfully applied and received a code, whichever is later.

Funding can start:

• From 1 April - for applications made between 1 January - 31 March
  
• From 1 September - for applications made between 1 April - 31 August
  
• From 1 January - for applications made between 1 September - 31 December

You must apply through the Government’s digital childcare service. If you can't do this, call the childcare service helpline on 0300 123 4097.

If your application returns a 'not eligible' result and you think this is wrong, you can make a request to challenge a childcare decision.

The free/funded childcare entitlements are not intended to cover the costs of

• meals or snacks
  
• other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream),
  
• extra hours or activities (such as trips).
  

Providers may charge a fee for these additions. Discuss with your childcare provider if you unable to pay these costs. Charges should not be a condition of accessing a free/funded place.

Please note, the entitlement to a free/funded place does not offer a guarantee of a place at your preferred provider.

• From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
  
• From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
  
• From September 2025, working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.