CLAIM GOVERNMENT FUNDED CHILDCARE BEFORE THE DEADLINE
The deadline to get your code for government-funded childcare hours is the end of the month prior to the term beginning. This means that if your child is due to start the new term in April, the deadline is March 31st. The same goes for the summer and
autumn terms. However, applying early helps avoid delays and guarantees your funded place.
WHAT IS FUNDED CHILDCARE?
Funded childcare refers to the government initiative of providing a certain number of hours of
free childcare every year to children of working parents. It is designed to ensure that children have access to high-quality care and education, while alleviating financial burdens on parents or guardians. However, the
government announced in their
2023 Spring Budget that by 2025, working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of subsidised childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year, from when their child is 9 months old to when they start primary school.
HOW DOES FREE HOURS CHILDCARE WORK AT LITTLE HUBBERS?
At Little Hubbers we know that managing childcare costs isn’t always easy, which is why we encourage families to take advantage of available government-funded hours. The number of hours you can receive depends on your child’s age and your family’s situation.
All our nursery settings offer inclusive learning and play activities, designed to keep your child active, happy, and engaged without extra charges for activities like sports or days out. You can apply for a free hours childcare
through the
government portal. Once your application is approved, you’ll get a code that you need to give to your childcare provider.
FREE CHILDCARE ELIGIBILITY
Wondering if you’re eligible for government-funded childcare? There are currently certain criteria for 15 hours free childcare eligibility and 30 hours free childcare eligibility. Here’s what you could be entitled to:
For Working Families
If you’re a working family in England and either you or your partner earns at least £183 a week (equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage), you may qualify for:
- 15 hours per week funded childcare for children aged 9 months to 3 years, starting from September 2024.*
- 30 hours per week funded childcare for children aged 3–4 years.*
- 30 hours per week funded childcare for children from 9 months to 4 years from September2025*
If you or your partner are on maternity, paternity, or adoption leave, or if you’re unable to work due to disability or caregiving responsibilities, you could still qualify. However, families with an individual net income of £100,000 or more won’t be
eligible. Once your application is approved, funding will begin at the start of the next term. *per term week You need to reconfirm eligibility for funded childcare every three months. The details of this will be in your government
childcare account.
If You Receive Additional Government Support
For families on support schemes such as income support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, or Child Tax Credit, you may qualify for the following:
- 15 hours per week funded childcare for children aged 2 years.
- 15 hours per week funded childcare for all children aged 3 years.
If you don’t get working families or government support
For families who do not qualify for working families or government support, you may qualify for the following:
- 15 hours per week funded childcare for children aged 3–4 years.*
*per term week
THE BENEFITS OF FUNDED CHILDCARE
Funded childcare offers a huge range of benefits for both children and their families. These programmes, which are typically subsidised by the government, contribute to the overall well-being and development of children while supporting parents’ ability
to work and pursue their own goals. One of the biggest benefits of funded childcare is that it alleviates the financial burden on families, allowing them to allocate their resources and reducing reliance on welfare programs, resulting
in reduced child poverty. Funded childcare equips children with better educational opportunities, enhances their social and cognitive skills, and reduces the likelihood of intergenerational poverty. It also helps support parents,
especially women, to go back to work when the time is right. This in turn leads to increased household income, enhancing financial stability and providing opportunities for improved living standards. It also serves as a positive
role model for children, demonstrating the value of education, and career aspirations. Childcare and nursery education are pivotal to the early development of children, and the funded childcare scheme helps to make that happen
for so many families who otherwise may not be able to afford it.
TAX FREE CHILDCARE
Tax-Free Childcare helps working families manage childcare costs. Available to families with children up to age 11, or up to age 17 for children with disabilities, this scheme can save you up to £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for children with disabilities).
You apply for the tax free childcare through the same gateway account as your funded application and we accept payment from this account to all of our English nurseries. Tax-Free Childcare can be combined along with 15 or 30
hours funded childcare to maximise savings.