All 3 or 4 year olds can get 15 hours free/funded childcare and early education. This is regardless of the parents’ immigration status.
They can get the free/funded hours from the term after their third birthday at an Ofsted registered:
- private day nursery
- pre-school playgroup
- childminder
- or school nursery class the September after your child turns 3.
This is for 38 weeks of the year but some childcare providers may ‘stretch’ the 15 hours across the full year. So that is, fewer hours offered per week over more weeks of the year (e.g. 11 hours each week for 51 weeks).
As this is available to all children, you do not need to apply. Find a childcare provider and contact them to see if they have a place for your child. Please note, the entitlement to a free/funded place does not offer a guarantee of a place at your preferred provider.
If you are a working family, you may also get an extra 15 hours, see 30 hours free/funded childcare