Help with childcare costs

What you could receive

 If you live and work in England you may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare support from the term after your child turns 9 months old, until they start school.

Families may get up to 1,140 hours per year, usually taken as:

• 30 hours per week for 38 weeks
• Stretch funding: fewer hours per week spread over more weeks. Not all providers offer this - please check with your childcare provider.

Note: all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 hours of childcare through the universal entitlement, irrespective of income. This can start from the term after a child turns 3 years olds. Eligible families can receive the additional 15 hours through the working parent entitlement.

Eligibility criteria

You may be eligible if you (and your partner, if applicable) are:

• in work or starting a job, and expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at national minimum wage over the next 3 months:
  • £2,643.68 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £203.36 per week)
  • £2,256.80 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £173.60 per week)
  • £1,664 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £128 per week)
• Are on shared parental, maternity, paternity, or adoption leave
• On sick leave or annual leave
• Are newly self-employed (in a start-up period): you don’t need to meet the income criteria for 12 months
• on bereaved partner paternity leave
• getting statutory neonatal care pay
• Are in a couple household where one parent is working and another receives:
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Limited Capability for Work Benefit
  • Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

You will not be eligible if you or your partner have an expected adjusted net income over £100,000 in the current tax year.

When can my child start?

Families could be eligible from the term after both a child turns 9 months old and a parent has confirmed eligibility from HMRC, such as a valid eligibility code.

Parents can apply when their children are older but the working parents entitlements will not start until the term after the parents have confirmed eligibility and code.

How to apply

• Apply via the government’s Best Start in Life website.
• Foster carers should follow the instructions below instead.

Once approved, you’ll receive a code to give to your childcare provider.

You must reconfirm eligibility every 3 months via your online account. You’ll receive reminders from GOV.UK.

Where can I use funded hours?

Most childcare providers accept funded hours, including:

• Childminders
• Pre-schools
• Nurseries (private and school-run)
• Some out-of-school clubs

Find childcare options in your area.

Additional support and schemes

You may also be eligible for:

• Early Years Pupil Premium: extra funding to support your child’s education
• Disability Access Fund: funding for providers to make reasonable adjustments for children receiving Disability Living Allowance
• Help with childcare costs: through Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit on the Government's website.

Foster carers

Children in foster care may be eligible if:

• The local authority is satisfied that the foster parent’s paid work (outside fostering) aligns with the child’s care plan
• In two-parent foster households, both must have paid work outside fostering, or one parent is on certain forms of family leave from work.
• in single foster parents families, the foster parent must also have paid work outside fostering

Foster carers must apply thorugh their social worker by contacting the Early Years Team. Do not apply through Best Start in Life.

Foster carers will be prompted every 3 months by the local authority to reconfirm eligibility.

What if I'm no longer eligible?

• Under 2s: If eligibility ends, you’ll lose funded hours and may need to pay for childcare. Check other support options via Best Start in Life.
• 2-year-olds: May still qualify for 15 hours if receiving support. See our Think2 funding page.
• 3 and 4-year-olds: Will continue to receive the universal 15 hours.

What does funding cover?

Funded hours pay for early education time at a provider. They do not cover:

• Meals
• Nappies
• Extra hours beyond the funded entitlement
• Additional activities (e.g. trips)

Important: These extras must not be mandatory or a condition for accessing a funded place. Speak to your provider about options.