Funding eligibility and applications

15 and 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get free early education or childcare. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible, for example if you get certain benefits. The free early education and childcare stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later). There are different schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

15 hours free childcare

All children in England get 570 free hours per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks, for example. You can claim funding from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday. Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.

30 hours free childcare

You may be able to get up to 30 hours free childcare (1,140 hours per year, which you can choose how you take). If you’re eligible for the extra hours, after you sign up online you will get a code to give to your childcare provider to reserve your place. You’ll receive the extra hours when the next term begins. If you’ve already registered, you simply need to sign in to your childcare account.

Information provided from: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Eligibility

You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are in work – or are getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave and are each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week – this is £120 if you’re over 25. This earning limit doesn’t apply if you’re self-employed and you started your business less than 12 months ago.

You’re not eligible if

• your child doesn’t usually live with you
• the child is your foster child
• either you or your partner has a taxable income over £100,000
• You can get 30 hours free childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, tax credits or childcare vouchers.

If you can’t work

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance.

How to apply for free childcare

You’ll need your details (and your partner’s, if you have one), including your:

• National Insurance number
• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you’re self-employed

It takes 20 minutes to apply. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days. You’ll get a childcare account if your application is successful. You can use it to get your code for 30 hours free childcare. If you pay for childcare and want to use Tax-Free Childcare to get help with costs, you can also apply using this service.