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.  

FUNDED CHILDCARE FAQS 

When does 15 hours per week funded childcare start?

 From the term after a child turns 9 months.

Who is eligible for funded childcare?

Since September 2024, all eligible working parents of children aged nine months to three years can access funding for 15 hours per week of education and care, for 38 weeks of the year. From September 2025, all eligible working parents of parents aged nine months to three years can access funding for 30 hours per week of education and care for 38 weeks of the year. Free funded hours are also currently available for families of two-year olds if they receive certain benefits. These include, but are not limited to:
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) / Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit, as long as your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments)
  • Guaranteed Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both)
  • Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (when you no longer qualify for Working Tax Credit)
  • The child gets Disability Living Allowance
Children aged three to four years old At present, all parents are able to claim 15 hours of free childcare for children aged 3-4. This adds up to a total of 570 hours per year (depending on when the child turns 3). For those parents who work over 16 hours per week and have an individual annual income below £100,000, they are eligible for up to 30 hours of complimentary childcare per week for their three to four-year-old children. Those on Universal Credit are able to claim back 85% of their childcare costs upfront and the maximum amount of support is now £951 for one child, and £1,630 for two.

How do I apply for funded childcare?

You will be asked by HMRC for details such as your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number, as well as the same details for your partner (if you have one). You will be asked whether you expect to meet the income requirements over the coming three months and whether you are in receipt of any relevant benefits.

Can I spread the funded childcare hours over the year?

Yes! The 15/30-hour funded childcare is paid for 38 weeks of the year.  As most working parents prefer the funding to be spread over the year, the number of funded hours each week is more like 11 or 22. This equates to 570 per year for 15-hour funding and 1140 hours per year on the 30-hour funding scheme.

I have a 2-year-old, and I don’t meet the working parent criteria can I apply for funded childcare?

Parents of 2-year-olds who claim certain benefits, and, cared for children are entitled to funded hours. Parents will usually receive information from their Local Authority if they are eligible as they need to provide the nursery with their reference (in some Councils) which is usually in letter form. Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria can also apply for the 15 hours funded childcare from the term after their child turns two. What is the minimum income to apply for free funded childcare?  You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £183 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum).

How can I check if I’m eligible for funded childcare?

For more information, visit Childcare Choices

When do the government changes to funded childcare come into place?

Since September 2024 – all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 4 years old can access 15 hours funded per week From September 2025 – all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 4 years old can access 30 hours funded childcare per week.