Totally confused about funded-hours

[ai38]

Hi

I am a FTM and feel totally confused about the government 30 hour funding for working parents. Would appreciate your help.

Our situation:

The plan for DD is to start nursery mid-January 2026. She will be 25 month-old by then. My husband and I are currently both working but I am thinking of quitting my current job and work on self-employment basis from around end of September.

Questions:

1. The current start date that we have agreed with our chosen setting is 19th of January 2026. Does it mean we can access the funded hours for January term? or because the starting date is mid-Jan, we will only be eligible for funded hours from Easter term in April? In other words, to get the funded hours should the child be attending the nursery right from the first day of the term or can day start a bit later?
2. When is the earliest we can apply to get our 30-hour code for January term? Can I do this in September while I'm still employed as I have heard it's much easier to prove your eligibility as an employee rather than a self-employed person.

1. Yes as long as you have your code by 31/ 12

1. No point as you'll have to re do it. every three months which would be December.

Thank you. So does it mean the earliest we can apply for a code for January start is 3 months in advance, i.e. October?