15 and 30 hours funded childcare

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Working Families (Opens in New Window)

Working Families with children aged:
  • 9 months to 2 years old can get 15 hours a week
  • 3 to 4 years can get 30 hours a week
Your eligibility depends on:
  • your income
  • your child’s age
  • your immigration status allows it.
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
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 whose families are receiving some additional government support

You receive Income related benefits such as:

  • Universal Credit and not working
  • Universal Credit and earning less than £15,400 a year or less after tax
  • Child tax credit, or working tax credit (or both) and your incomes is £16,190 a year or less

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.