30 Hours ‘Free’ Childcare in England

30 Hours Funded Childcare for Nine Months to Three Year Olds

Working Parents Entitlement:

Since September 2024, eligible working parents in England have been able to claim 15 hours of funded childcare, each week, from Ofsted registered childcare providers, for a child aged nine months – three years old. This is known as the “working parents entitlement”.

This entitlement is part of the broader childcare support provided by the government to assist working parents.

In September 2025, the working parents entitlement will increase from 15 hours of funded childcare to 30 hours. This extended entitlement will be available to eligible working parents with children aged between nine months and five years old.

The working parents entitlement and the entitlement for families receiving certain benefits cannot be used at the same time for the same child, so a family who are eligible for both types of childcare should instead choose to claim the entitlement for families receiving Government support to avoid reconfirming details every three months.

The eligibility requirements for the 30 hours of childcare available to working parents from September 2025 are the same as the criteria currently used to claim 15 hours of funded childcare for children aged nine months to two years. These are:

• Your child must normally live with you,
• You are working and earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours each week at national living wage or minimum wage,
• if you are under 21 years old this income rate is variable depending on your age.
• if you are self employed you can earn less and still be eligible.
• You earn less than £100,000 a year per person (for working families, neither one of you should earn over £100,000 a year).

For a non UK citizen, you (and your partner, if you have one) must have a national insurance number, and either British or Irish citizenship, or have settled / pre-settled status or a UK residence card with permission to access public funds.

If you are a foster parent with children aged nine months to four years old, you may also be eligible for the working parents entitlements, as long as the foster parent is in paid work outside of fostering and does not expect their adjusted net income to exceed £100,000. Your local authority or social worker with responsibility for the child must confirm the foster parent’s paid work is consistent with the child’s care plan.

30 Hours Funded Childcare for Three & Four Year Olds with Approved Childcare Providers

All children who live in England aged three and four years old, regardless of parents’ employment, income, or family circumstances, are currently entitled to 15 funded hours of early education and childcare each week with an approved childcare provider such as Grandir UK.

Some children are entitled to 30 funded hours a week, where one or both parents are working and able to combine the additional 15 hours of the working families entitlement and claim a total of 30 hours per week of funded childcare.

The funded hours entitlements must be used as payment to your chosen childcare provider. Your childcare provider must be Ofsted registered. At Grandir UK, all of our nurseries are proud to be Ofsted registered.

The eligibility requirements for the 30 hours of childcare available to working parents from September 2025 are the same as the criteria currently used to claim 15 hours of funded childcare for children aged nine months to two years. These are:

• Your child must normally live with you,
• You are working and earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours each week at national living wage or minimum wage,
• if you are under 21 years old this income rate is variable depending on your age.
• if you are self-employed you can earn less and still be eligible.
• You earn less than £100,000 a year per person (for working families, neither one of you should earn over £100,000 a year).

For a non-UK citizen, you (and your partner, if you have one) must have a national insurance number, and either British or Irish citizenship, or have settled / pre-settled status or a UK residence card with permission to access public funds.

If you are a foster parent with children aged nine months to four years old, you may also be eligible for the working parents’ entitlements, as long as the foster parent is in paid work outside of fostering and does not expect their adjusted net income to exceed £100,000. Your local authority or social worker with responsibility for the child must confirm the foster parent’s paid work is consistent with the child’s care plan.

How to Apply for 30 Hours of Funded Childcare

You can apply for 30 hours of funded childcare when your child is two years and 36 weeks old. You can receive the funding from the term after your child’s third birthday until your child starts reception class or reaches compulsory school age, if this is later.

You can use your funded hours in the term after you meet the full eligibility criteria for the childcare entitlement you are applying for. Terms begins on January 1st, April 1st, September 1st each year. Here is how you can apply:

1. Set up your childcare service account on the Government website.
2. Apply for your childcare code via the Government website – the website will tell you if you are eligible straight away, unless they need more information. You must apply for the code by the end of the month before a new term starts. For example, if the term starts on September 1st you must apply by August 31st.
3. Secure your childcare place with your Ofsted registered Grandir UK nursery or preschool.
4. Give your childcare account code to your Grandir UK childcare provider. You will also need to tell your childcare provider your national insurance number and your child’s date of birth, and/or show your child’s birth certificate.
5. You must get your code before the new term begins to ensure your child’s funding is in place.