30 hours funded entitlement

Free childcare for working parents

Childcare support is expanding, with significant changes coming to 30 hours free childcare in England. Click here for more details and to sign up for updates. 

The upcoming expansion

Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.

The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families. This means that:

  • From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours childcare per week (over 38 weeks a year) from the term after their child’s 2nd birthday.  You can apply now for an April start.
  • To apply for a childcare code each parent needs to be working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year. This means that each parent needs to earn from just over £8,600 per year to be eligible for 15 hours a week of childcare during term time. Check eligibility here.

**TAKE ACTION**

  • If you are an eligible working parent with a child who turns two before 31 March, you can apply now for 15 hours funded childcare per week to start in April 2024.  Apply for your 15 hours by visiting the application webpage. Apply early in case you need to provide further information to support your application. Get your code in good time - the deadline to get your code is 31 March.  If you need help with your application, you can call the national helpline on 0300 1234 097.
  • Give your code to your chosen childcare provider as soon as possible.  They will need to validate it before they can give you a start date. A directory of providers can be found in the downloads section of this page.
  • From Sept 2024, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3-year-olds can access 15 hours childcare (over 38 weeks a year) from the term following their child turning 9 months.
  • From Sept 2025, the offer will be rolled out in full, with eligible working parents of children aged 9 months and above able to access 30 hours childcare a week (over 38 weeks a year) from the term following their child turning 9 months.

Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, the funded hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week. 

Eligibility criteria will apply and can be found here. You will need to apply via the GOV.UK website here.

The existing 30 hours entitlement

To see information about the current 30 hours entitlement, please visit our page on Free early education for three and four year olds

Children in foster care

Foster carers who work outside of their fostering role will have access to the expanded entitlement giving them the same access to support as other working families.

Children in foster care who have attained the relevant age are eligible for the working parent entitlements, provided that:

  • the foster parent is in paid work outside their fostering role and does not expect their adjusted net income to exceed £100,000. (The foster parent does not have to meet the minimum income requirement).
  • the responsible local authority confirms it is satisfied that the foster parent engaging in paid work other than as a foster parent is consistent with the child’s care plan.

There is a separate application route for foster carers. Foster carers must apply to the Local Authority which is responsible for the child. If you are a foster carer caring for a child looked after by Newham Council, please contact the Newham 30 hours team for further information and an application form.  E: 30hourschildcare@newham.gov.uk  

Related Information

Last updated: 07/02/2024

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