30 Hours Free Childcare

Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for up to 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time. This is made up of the universal 15 hours available to all children and an additional 15 hours for eligible working families

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible if your child is aged 3 or 4, both parents (or a single parent) are working, each parent earns at least the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage and neither parent earns more than £100,000 per year There are also some circumstances where families may still qualify, for example during parental leave or short-term illness

How it works

You can claim up to 30 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year Some providers offer a stretched model across the year meaning fewer hours per week You do not have to use all 30 hours and can choose what works best for your family You can also split hours between providers although this is limited to a maximum of two sites per day

How to apply

You must apply online through the government childcare service You will receive an eligibility code which you must provide to your childcare provider to secure your place You will need to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months to continue receiving the funding We recommend applying as early as possible to ensure your place is secured for the following term

Important information

Funding can be accessed from the term after your child turns three Providers may charge for additional items such as meals or trips but these must be optional If your circumstances change you may still receive a short grace period