3 and 4 year old early education and childcare (15 and 30 hour offers)
All 3 and 4-year-olds who live in England are eligible for 15 hours of early education and childcare, irrespective of income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances.
Working parents may also be eligible for an extended 15 hours of childcare called 30 Hours Childcare, offering 30 hours a week during term time or around 22 hours a week over a full year .
Check what help you could get with childcare costs, and which support might be best for you, using the Best start in life eligibility checker
If your child is aged 3 or 4 and you are receiving this 15 hours childcare, and receiving some additional forms of support, you may also be eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). EYPP is paid to childcare providers and gives them additional funding to support learning and development for children. You can see if you’re eligible for EYPP on GOV.UK and speak with your provider or local council to apply.
Please see link for information on tax free childcare: Childcare Service helpline - GOV.UK
Childcare service telephone number: 0300 123 4097
15 hour Universal offer for 3 and 4 year olds
The Universal offer - up to 15 hours a week during term time or a maximum of 11 hours a week throughout the year of early education and childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.
Parents of all 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for the universal 15 hour offer and do not need to make an application.
Your chosen early years provider will be able to advise you about spaces, start dates and any fees and charges before you decide to join them. You will be required to sign a contract and may be required to pay a deposit.
Children become eligible for funding as below:
|
Child’s birthday |
When your child can start early education funding |
|
1 January to 31 March |
The beginning of Summer term on or after 1 April |
|
1 April to 31 August |
The beginning of Autumn term on or after 1 September |
|
1 September to 31 December |
The beginning of Spring term on or after 1 January |
30 hour for 3 and 4 year olds (working families)
The Extended offer - up to 30 hours a week during term time or a maximum of 22 hours a week throughout the year of early education and childcare for working families of 3 and 4 year olds.
Parents can begin accessing up to 30 hours childcare, from the start of the next term after they receive their eligibility code. Parents are therefore advised to check the earliest date they can apply as soon as possible with their chosen childcare provider.
Families will be eligible if:
- Both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family)
- Each parent earns on average a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW)
- Each parent earns less than £100,000 per year.
Families will remain eligible if:
- One parent is working and the other has a disability or substantial caring responsibilities.
- A parent is away from work temporarily (sick leave or maternity/adoption leave).
- A grace period has been put in place by government to assist parents whose employment circumstances change.
Parents will not be eligible for up to 30 hours childcare if the parent is a non-EEA national and subject to immigration control (and has no recourse to public funds).
Children become eligible for funding from the term after their 3rd birthday and the term after they receive an eligible 30 hours code as follows:
|
Eligible code received |
When your child can start early education funding |
|
1 January to 31 March |
The beginning of Summer term on or after 1 April |
|
1 April to 31 August |
The beginning of Autumn term on or after 1 September |
|
1 September to 31 December |
The beginning of Spring term on or after 1 January |
Applying for 30 hours childcare and receiving your 30 hour eligible code
Parents can apply for both 30 hours childcare and Tax Free Childcare at the same time via the Homepage | Best Start in Life
Once registered for the Childcare Service, parents can:
- Apply for 30 hours childcare and Tax-Free Childcare
- Reconfirm their entitlement 30 hours funded childcare every 3 months
- Start paying into your children's Tax-Free Childcare accounts and use it to pay for childcare costs
Most parents will be informed straight away if they are eligible for 30 hours childcare and will receive their 30 hours code.
Please take your 30 hours code to your chosen early years provider.
It is the parents responsibility to reconfirm their code every 3 months