15 and 30 Hours Funded (often refer to as Free) Childcare for 2,3 and 4 Year Olds
Please contact us to receive our sheet “Early Years Funding Entitlement” for details on our Funded Sessions.
What is 15 and 30 Hours Funded?
All 2, 3 to 4 year olds in England can get free early education or childcare.
The free early education and childcare:
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must be with an approved childcare provider
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stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later)
There are different schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
15 Hours Free Childcare
All children in England get 570 free hours per year. At Quackers we offer 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.
You can get it from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday.
30 Hours Free Childcare
You may be able to get up to 30 Hours Free Childcare (1,140 hours per year, which you can choose how you take).
If you’re eligible for the extra hours, you sign up online to get a code to give us to reserve your place. You’ll get the extra hours once the next term starts. At Quackers we offer 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.
If you’ve already registered, you can sign in to your childcare account.
Eligibility
You can usually get 30 Hours Free Childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:
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in work - or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
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each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week - this is £125.28 if you’re over 25
This earnings limit does not apply if you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.
You’re not eligible if:
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your child does not usually live with you
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the child is your foster child
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either you or your partner has a taxable income over £100,000
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you’re from outside the EEA and your UK residence card says you cannot access public funds
You can get 30 Hours Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers.
If you cannot work
You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance.
Apply for 30 Hours Free Childcare
You’ll need your details (and your partner’s, if you have one), including your:
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National Insurance number
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Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you’re self-employed
You’ll get a childcare account if your application is successful. You can use it to get your code for 30 Hours Free Childcare.
If you pay for childcare and want to use Tax-Free Childcare to get help with costs, you can also apply using this service.
It usually takes 20 minutes to apply. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.