Parents working between the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage (£195 per week or £10,158 a year from April 2025) and £100,000 adjusted net income may now be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare for their children aged at least 9 months. Places are funded from the term after your child turns 9 months old.
If you are not eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare, your child may be eligible for 15 hours instead. All parents of children aged 3 to 4 in England can access a universal offer of 15 hours of government funded early education from the term after their child turns 3. It doesn't matter how much you earn or how many hours you work.
Parents of 2-year-olds can also access 15 hours a week of funded early education if they receive additional forms of support. This includes support like being on Universal Credit and earning less than £15,400 a year, or if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan, or has been looked after by a local authority. Places are funded from the term after a child turns 2.
For all these schemes, the childcare provider must be approved – so informal providers such as grandparents don’t count.
The funding covers up to 15 or 30 hours of early education and childcare a week for 38 weeks a year. You may be able to spread this funding over more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks. You should check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.
Some providers may ask you to pay for costs to cover extras like meals, nappies or trips. Ask your provider what extras they offer.
Eligibility depends on whether you’re working, your income, your child’s age and circumstances and your immigration status. Full details about eligibility requirements can be found here.
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