How do free childcare and nurseries work in UK?

[Liloolia]

Hi mums. I am having difficulties understanding the system for free childcare and nurseries in UK. I am living in London and my daughter will be 3 in January next year. I am struggling to understand the costs and how do nurseries count for the free childcare..
Are the fees that they give usually including the free hours or they deduct them after?

Maybe it's my luck but so far as I am not working, most of the nurseries I applied for are saying they don't have spaces available as soon as I mention 15 H free childcare and part time nursery.
If anyone has time explaining a but how the process work or what to expect, I will be grateful.
Thank you 😊

Try contacting school nurseries. They usually offer the 15 hours completely free, either every morning or every afternoon.

If you're not working, and therefore don't need full days / full weeks, I'd look at preschools (often attached to primary schools). They are usually 9-3 in term time only. Also benefits are that your child will meet others going to the same school. Our nursery (which is 8-6, every day) gives priority to those wanting full days, at least 3/4 days a week.

I thought so, it's either this, either moving further away . Thank you so much