Parents/Carers of children aged 9 months to 4 years
Funded childcare places for 2 year olds
Eligible families who have 2-year-old children and are in receipt of certain benefits can get 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks. The maximum each year is 570 hours.
You can get funded childcare from the term after your child's 2nd birthday, as long as you have got a valid eligibility code.
- check the eligibility criteria
- apply online for your eligibility code
- Take your code to your childcare provider
Funded childcare places for children aged 9 months to 3 years
Eligible working families in England with children aged 9 months to 3 years can receive 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks. The maximum each year is 570 hours.
Funded childcare places for 3 and 4 year olds
All families with children aged 3 and 4 can get 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks. The maximum each year is 570 hours.
Your child will be eligible from the term after their third birthday.
- find out more about free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds
Eligible working families in England with 3 and 4-year-old children can receive 30 hours of funded childcare a week.
- find out more about 30 hours childcare
- apply for 30 hours free childcare.
- frequently asked questions
Tax-free childcare for children aged 0–11 (0–16 if a child is disabled)
Families can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of their children to help with the cost of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).
Claim back childcare costs
Families may be able to claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs if they are eligible for Universal Credit.
Other help with childcare costs
Childcare Choices is the government website providing information about the different types of help with childcare costs. Families can use the childcare-calculator to find out what schemes they are eligible for and how much they can get towards the cost of their childcare.
Frequently asked questions
When can my child start?
Funding is available from the term after your child's birthday.
1st January to 31st March. Start summer term on or after the 1st April.
1st April to 31st August. Start autumn term on or after the 1st September.
1st September to 31st December. Start spring term on or after the 1st January.
What are the benefits for my child?
Can my provider charge me?
Government funding is intended to deliver free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services.
As part of a free entitlement place providers can charge for:
- meals and snacks
- consumables such as nappies or sun cream and for services such as trips
Can I get help with the upfront cost of childcare?
If you receive Universal Credit payments and pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs. This includes holiday clubs, after-school clubs and breakfast clubs. If you live with a partner, you both need to be working, unless your partner cannot look after your children.
You normally need to pay for the childcare first. If you cannot pay that upfront cost, you might be able to get help with that.
Speak to your Universal Credits Work Coach and visit Universal Credit childcare costsfor more information.