9+ month old: 30 hours early education and childcare for working families
Working parents
For children aged 9 months to 4 years.
Eligible working families can apply for 30 hours of childcare to use from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age.
If you live and work in England you may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare support from the term after your child turns 9 months old, until they start school.
You can usually get funded childcare for working parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:
- in work or starting a new job
- on sick leave or annual leave
- on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
The amount of funded childcare you can get depends on:
- your child’s age and circumstances
- your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
- your immigration status
Eligibility criteria
What are the eligibility criteria I need to meet to claim the 30 hours childcare for working parents?
Working parents in England who each earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage are eligible.
You’re eligible if you earn at least:
Your age Yearly 3 Months Weekly
21 and over £10,158 £2,539.68 £195.36
18 to 20 £8,320 £2,080 £160
Under 18 or an £6,281 £1,570.40 £120.80
apprentice
You can earn up to £100,000 adjusted net income per year and be eligible. If you have a partner who lives with you, they must also earn between these two amounts. The £100,000 adjusted net income level was chosen to correspond with income tax thresholds. See our eligibility criteria for more information, including the income requirements for those who are self-employed.
Applying for 9+ month early education and childcare
When do I need to apply?
We recommend you contact your chosen provider as early as possible to secure your place.
You will be able to take up your hours from the term after you meet all the eligibility criteria for the entitlement you are applying for. These terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September.
You can apply for your code up to 16 weeks before your baby turns 9 months old. You need to apply online before the deadline to receive a code to give to your childcare provider. The deadline is the day before the new term begins, but we encourage you to apply earlier, and recommend applying at least 6 weeks before the deadline. Some providers may ask for codes before the deadline, so we recommend you speak to your provider to find out if this is the case. The deadlines are:
When you would like to use your The deadline to apply for a code
entitlements from
| 1 January | 31 December |
| 1 April | 31 March |
| 1 September | 31 August |
If you do not apply on or before the deadline, you will not be able to take up your entitlements in that term.