Funded education for 3 and 4-year-olds

Universal 15 funded hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds

All 3 and 4-year-olds who live in England are entitled to this offer irrespective of income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances. Families can get up to 570 funded hours per year, normally taken as:

• 15 hours of early education for 38 weeks, or
• ‘Stretch’ funding by taking fewer hours per week but over more weeks of the year. Not all childcare providers can supply this offer, so check with your provider.

When could a child be eligible  ?

When a child turns 3 years old between:

• 1 January - 31 March: funding can start from the summer term (from 1 April) 
• 1 April - 31 August: funding can start from autumn term (from 1 September)
• 1 September - 31 December: funding can start spring term after turning 3 years old (from 1 January)

How do parents claim a funded place?

• Funded hours can be accessed at most childcare providers, such as:
  • childminders,
  • pre-schools,
  • nurseries - both private and school run.
  • some out of school clubs
• Parents should contact their childcare provider for availability, and they will claim funding on a parent's behalf.
• The universal 15 hours stay with the child until they start school (but no later than the term a child turns 5 years old).

Look for childcare options in your area. 

 Additional Support and Combining Schemes

Early Years Pupil Premium - families could receive some additional funding to support the education of their child.

Disability Access Fund - settings who have children who receive Disability Living Allowance could be eligible for some funding to make reasonable adjustments to the provision and improve access.

Extra help with childcare costs - as well as funded hours parents could get help with additional childcare costs. This could be through Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit.

30 hours -  working parent entitlement

In addition to the universal 15 hours some families could be entitled to an extra 15 hours through the working parent entitlement, this could mean up to 1140 funded hours per year.

Parents may already be accessing this entitlement as eligible families can apply for this from when a child is 9 months old. But parents can apply for the working parent entitlement from any point they start work after a child has turned the relevant age. Find out how to apply and for more information about the 30 hours childcare for eligible working families in England.

Parents must reconfirm eligibility every 3 months via their online account and should be reminded to do so by Best Start in Life.

Foster Carers: 

Must make their application for the working parents entitlement to the local authority with the aid of the social worker  For more information go to our working parent entitlements page.

Eligible families could get:

• up to 30 hours per week over 38 weeks, or
• 'Stretch’ funding by taking fewer hours per week but over more weeks of the year. Not all childcare providers can supply this offer, so check with your provider.

What is funding for and how can families use it?

• Frequently asked questions about how families can use and access their funded hours.

• Funded hours are to pay for a numberof hours a child attends a provider for quality early education. It therefore does not cover:

• • meals
  • nappies
  • additional hours over and above the funded entitlement
  • additional activities, such as trips.

However, access to these extras must not be mandatory or a condition of accessing a funded place. Parents should speak to their childcare provider about extra services or alternative options.