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15 and 30 hours funded childcare

Find the right option for you

Working Families (Opens in New Window)

Working Families with:
  • children aged 9 months to 2 years old, can get 15 hours a week
  • children 3 to 4 years can get 30 hours a week
Your eligibility depends on:
  • your income
  • your child’s age
  • your immigration status.
You, and any partner, must earn:
  • no less than National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.
  • no more than £100,000 a year each
You could be eligible if one of you are:
  • on maternity, paternity or adoption leave,
  • unable to work because of a disability or caring responsibilities.

15 hours for 2 year olds (with additional government support)

If you answer yes to any of these you may be eligible.
You receive Income related benefits
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
  • Universal Credit and not working.
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Your child:
  • has a special educational need or a disability
  • is adopted or in foster care
You are a non- UK citizen:
  • who cannot claim benefits
  • your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’

15 hours for all 3 to 4 year olds

All 3 to 4 year olds can get 15 hours free/funded childcare and early education. This is regardless of the parents’ income or immigration status.
They can get the free/funded hours from the term after their third birthday at an Ofsted registered childcare provider.