Free early education and childcare

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to up to 15 hours a week of free early years education. It must be with one of the approved childcare providers. This includes:

• day nurseries
• pre-schools
• playgroups
• independent school nurseries
• childminders

The entitlement starts the term after your child’s third birthday.

When will my child be eligible for the free entitlement?

Your child becomes eligible from the start of the term after they become 3 years old. 

30 Hour Childcare Funding

Children of working parents or carers, may qualify for an additional 15 hours a week. This makes 30 hours in total. It is dependent on whether parents or carers meet the national eligibility criteria.

You may be eligible for 30 hours funding if:

• You live in England
• Your child is between the age of 3 and 4
• Your income is less than £100,000 per year

Find out if you qualify for 30 hours free childcare using the Government's Childcare Calculator.

Eligibility codes and application

To get the 30 hours funding for your child, you will need to apply for the eligibility code via Childcare Choices.

For each term, you will have to apply for the code by a specific date for it to be valid for use. The table below will show dates of when you need to apply for the code by, for each term.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Early Education providers may be eligible for EYPP to help support a child. This funding is provided to help improve the learning and development of disadvantaged 3 and 4 year olds.

The early education providers can receive up to £353 per year to help with the child's education. The funding is directly sent to early years education providers.

EYPP Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the EYPP funds, your child must be aged 3 - 4 year old obtaining 15 hours free childcare.

You must get one of the following to qualify:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get

You may also qualify if your child is:

• A looked after child
• Adopted
• Special Guardianship order
• Child Arrangements order

To apply for EYPP fund, contact your childcare provider.

Disability Access Fund

Children aged 3 and 4 year old with 15 hours free childcare funding and disability living allowance can get disability access funding paid to their early education providers. The early years providers could get up to £910 or more per year to help with their education and support.

To apply for the disability access funding speak to your childcare provider.

Find out about extra funding. Get extra funding for your early years provider

Staggered Entry to school reception classes

We know that many schools operate a “settling-in” period or a start date later in the term for reception class children. In these cases, a claim can be made for the number of weeks attended, even if the child leaves before headcount week. If a child starts at a school nursery, and then leaves, then no funding will be paid to another provider until the beginning of the next funded term.