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15 and 30 hours Funded Childcare and Early Education

Find the right option for you

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

If you answer yes to any one of these you may be eligible.
  • You are working and in receipt of income related benefits
  • You are not working and receive income related benefits
  • Your child has a special educational need or a disability
  • Your child 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.

30 hours for Working Families

Working Families with:
  • children aged 9 months to 4 years old, can get up to 30 hours a week
Your eligibility depends on:
  • your income
  • 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
Couples could be eligible if one of you are:
  • on maternity, paternity or adoption leave,
  • unable to work because of a disability or caring responsibilities.
To find out whether you can get 30 hours and to apply go to beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education