Ask us anything about funded childcare - eligibility, applying, and what to expect £100 voucher to be won!

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From September, eligible working parents in England with children aged 9 months to school age will be able to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week - part of the government’s expanded childcare offer in England.

We know that for many parents, it’s not always straightforward. You might be wondering:
– Am I eligible?
– How do I apply – and what’s the deadline?
– What will funded hours actually look like in practice?
– How do I feel about sending my child to nursery or a childminder?

This Q&A is here to help. Whether you’re after clear, practical info about the funding or want a better sense of what formal childcare is really like, post your question below and we’ll do our best to get it answered.

No question is too small – if it’s on your mind, chances are it’s on someone else’s too.
We’ve brought together two brilliant experts to support this discussion:
👩‍💼 Sarah Walker, an experienced Early Years teacher, who can answer any questions about formal childcare
👩‍👧 Tina Williams, Head of Editorial at Mumsnet and a parent currently using funded hours, who’ll be sharing her real-life experience

They’ll be answering questions weekly throughout July and August in the lead-up to the 31st August application deadline.

💬 Ask your question below by 31st August and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 VEX gift voucher (T&C’s apply)

Not obvious at all - lots of parents are wondering the same!

You’ll need to apply for your 30 hours code the term before you want to start using the hours. So for a January nursery start, you’ll need to apply by 31 December. You can apply for your entitlement up to 16 weeks before your child turns 9 months - so anytime from late September onwards would work well.

To be eligible, both parents usually need to be working and earning at least the minimum threshold. However, if you're on statutory maternity leave, you're still considered eligible - even if your pay has stopped - as long as your partner meets the earnings requirement and you're planning to return to work.

So yes, even if you're in the unpaid part of your mat leave, you should still be eligible as a household. Just make sure to apply ahead of 31 December, and confirm your details before the deadline.

Hope that helps @DinoGD

Hi everyone, my son was born happy and healthy at 8pounds, he was exclusively breastfed and gained weight really well and by five months old he was in age 9-12 clothes. Fast forward seven months and he’s still in 9-12 clothes. He’s still breastfed alongside a healthy diet, being offered all of the same foods as my toddler who is thriving. Whilst my son is reaching all milestones, and has just had a great one year review, it was concerning to us to see that he had lost weight. I thought it was because he’s so fast! He crawls off and away in a flash and will walk very quickly with some support from a hand or pushing a walker. I took him to be weighed again today and he has lost more weight, they told me try and offer food over breast milk and come back in four weeks. I’m concerned he’s loosing weight but also don’t know if I feel limiting breast milk is the answer. I try to feed him first and then offer milk but he often wants milk first and will refuse food until I feed him. Has anyone been in a similar position?

Anyone here studied adult nursing at Derby university?
would you be able to tell me roughly what the time table looks like ? I am mature student with 2 small kids so I like to be organised but won’t get my time table until August.. iv tried everything to get it now but they make it individually so I’ll have to wait

even if you can send me a copy of your old year 1 timetable just to roughly know when we are off when the placements are etc. ??

im starting this September

Hi @DoreenGrey! It’s a good idea to apply as soon as you can using your child’s current details, so you don’t miss out on funding.

When the adoption’s finalised and the name changes, just speak with your local authority and your nursery to ensure their system is updated with the new name. Before you next reconfirm your 30 hours code, you can also contact the Childcare Service to make sure they're aware of the name change.

Applying early means you’re less likely to miss out, and any admin updates can be sorted alongside. Hope that helps!

Hi @PCAMum thanks for your question, and sorry for the delay. We would be concerned about parents receiving the entitlements paying higher rates for private-paid hours than other parents. We can’t be certain, but this may be a top up fee - which isn't allowed. Unfortunately, we can't give legal advice, but strongly suggest you speak to your local authority to see if they can look into this or direct you to get some assistance (if they think the rates are a fully private matter). They can also help you find an alternative childcare place that still suits your needs.

Thanks for sharing @RHJc24, and we know this is something that’s come up for a few parents recently.

Just to explain, while the government funds a set number of hours, providers can set their own charges for things that fall outside those funded hours — such as meals, snacks, extra activities, or additional hours of care. These charges vary by setting, and they should be clearly set out in your contract or by the provider directly.

If you’re seeing a change in fees, it’s worth asking your nursery for a breakdown so you understand exactly what’s included and how the new costs are worked out. Every setting structures things a bit differently, so it’s not always a like-for-like comparison.

If you're still unsure about anything, we would recommend you speak to your local authority about it.

Hi @Chickierock66 - thanks for the question. It’s completely understandable to feel confused, as how the funded hours are delivered can vary quite a bit from one setting to another.

The government funding covers up to 15 or 30 hours a week (depending on eligibility) for 38 weeks of the year - that’s based on a school term-time model. Some nurseries “stretch” those hours across more weeks - like 50 weeks - which means you get fewer funded hours per week, but spread over the full year.

Providers can also set their own daily session lengths and charge separately for things like meals or care outside the funded hours. For example, if their standard day runs from 7:45 to 6pm, that’s longer than the 6 hours typically funded in a 9–3 day - so they may charge for the extra time.

It’s worth asking the nursery to give you a simple breakdown showing:

• how they’ve applied the funded hours
• what’s included in your grandson’s day
• what’s being charged for, and why

Hope that helps clear a few things up. If its still not clear after that, we would recommend speaking to your local authority about it.

Thanks for the question @Thatslifethatsit.

Nurseries set their own fees, and the way the funding works means they may charge for extras like meals or activities. While you get funded hours from the government once your child turns 3, the funding is based on standard rates and how your nursery delivers care may affect what you’re asked to pay. Every setting is different, so it's worth asking for a breakdown if anything’s unclear.

Another great question @ridl14

Nurseries can charge for meals, snacks, nappies and other consumables alongside funded hours, but they shouldn't charge for days when your child isn’t actually attending.

If your child starts partway through a term, the funded hours (and any related charges) should only apply from their start date - not before. If you’re being asked to pay for anything before your child begins, it’s worth asking the nursery for a breakdown and checking it with your local authority if you’re unsure.

Would I still qualify for the free government funded childcare working 16 hours a week but not earning £195 per week?

I applied for government free childcare for our daughter (born September 2024) to start this September. I was on maternity leave when I applied, so I qualified for it. I've now got to reconfirm details this month before she starts nursery but now that I have returned to work, I'm worried I do not meet the requirements anymore.

I work part-time at a school, I work 16 hours a week, but because I work at a school my pay is spread out over the year to cover the holidays, so I don't quite earn £195 a week, instead I earn just under that by about £10 - £20.

I can't take up any more hours at work, my husband works full time and we don't really have much support around us for someone else to be able to have our daughter 2 days a week for us until she's 2 or 3. The costs for the nursery we've applied for for cost us £600-£800 per month (not included consumables and lunches), which is pretty much my entire paycheck and would leave us struggling to pay for bills and groceries each month. So we're kind of relying on having this free childcare, in order for me to be able to work, if we don't qualify, unfortunately, I may have to leave my job which then causes more/other problems as we would not be able to survive/pay for bills relying on just my husband's wage.

Thanks for asking about this @tillytown. Nurseries and preschools shouldn’t refuse funded hours just because a child has SEN or a disability. The funding is there to support eligible children, including those with extra needs.

Sometimes settings say the standard funding doesn’t cover the extra care required. In those cases, there are additional funding options, like Disability Access Funding (DAF) or Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF). For both DAF and SENIF, the provider would need to apply for that separately.

I know getting an EHC plan can take a long time, which is really frustrating. While waiting, it’s a good idea to speak to the local family information service or the council’s SEND team about what support might be available.

Local authorities and early years providers have duties via the SEND Code of Practice, Equality Act 2010, and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework to promote equality and inclusion for children with disabilities or SEN, removing the barriers that prevent children from accessing early education.

If nurseries are refusing to accept the child outright, it’s worth getting advice from local SEND services or charities like IPSEA, who help parents challenge these situations.

Thanks for your question @B1984 - you're not alone in feeling frustrated. Unfortunately, parents without recourse to public funds aren’t eligible for the funded childcare schemes that require an application. All families can still access the universal 15 hours from age 3.

Hi,
I am already in full time work and my partner is due to return to work full time work on 29th September (using up paid holiday). I therefore understand that i am eligible to apply for 30 hours free childcare funding for the 1st September term. I already submitted an application a few weeks ago which is pended and so far have heard nothing. Advice on childcare choices website seems to have changed as previously it said I could not make an application until 31 days before my partner returns to work. It now says I should call HMRC to be guided through the application if in this situation. What should I do please? Last time I rang hmrc were not helpful and they would not put me through to the staff that process the applications to discuss the application I had made. Also is it correct that the nursery needs to have provided the code to hmrc prior to the 1st September term commencing?If so this is a very tight window if they won't let you apply until 31 days before. I had heard this mentioned on the forums with someone suggesting i ask for a temporary code.

Any help and advice would be very much appreciated please as it is all so confusing and I am just stressed that I will miss out on receiving funding for the 1st September term which we cannot afford to happen!

Thanks Graham

We currently have a daughter who is 2yrs old come September she will be entitled to 30 hours, she will be 2yrs 5months by then we are expecting our second child any time now, will being on maternity leave effect our entitlement to the 30 free hours? And also when our 2nd child is 9 months will they also be entitled to the 30 hours or is it for one child only? Thanks

My son already receives the 15 free hours for 2 year olds. He’s just turned 3 - do I need to do anything to move him from 2 year old to 3 year old funding?

Do nurseries have to accept you if you’re using free hours, or can they reject you on the basis of receiving funding?

Settings are allowed to limit the amount of funded places they offer. It's not a personal decision but simply that they dont have any availability. Settings dont have to accept funding at all if they dont want to.

After being made redundant Im thinking of setting up a business and working for myself. Likely to not be earning something for some time as I would be making things to sell and obviously need to build a website, promotion etc too.
my little one starts nursery in September. Is it ok to be this early on in my business to apply for childcare funding as someone who is self employed.

I need some advice friends, I had a PUL last Xmas at 9 weeks and a chemical the start of June at week 5+2. With my first pregnancy I had really faint lines on CB early for about three days before my missed period. Then with pregnancy number two I only got faint lines the day of my missed period. AF is due on now by August 3rd according to FLO and I've been testing like the true serial tester I am because I am a complete psycho and I've been getting the fainted lines within the time frame with CB early the last three days. I was convinced they were evap or dye run but I've followed the tests to a T.
Could it be another chemical? I have a 30-32 day cycle and 17 day luteal, surely at this stage there would be a banger of a line if i had a viable pregnancy. These pictures are absolutely rubbish too I can see it with the naked eye but I can't pick it up on the camera 😑

Hi, I thought I was able to get the 30 hours from September (my daughter is 3 in December and I currently get 15 hours), but when I mentioned this to my nursery, they said I wouldn’t get the 30 hours until January, as my daughter has to be 3. Is this correct or will my new code automatically start the 30 hours from September? Many thanks for your help.

Hi.
My husband has worked for the last 20 years but has decided to go to university in September. I'm still currently on maternity leave and due to go back to work in January when our youngest will go to nursery.
As my husband will no longer be earning, does this mean we'll no longer be eligible for free hours? I'll be earning over the threshold and he'll be a full time student.
Thanks!

I'd like to know this too.

The answers take so long to come!!

I thought it was 30 hours automatically applied from Sep so long as they're eligible, didn't think the child had to be at least 3 years old and doesn't say this on the government website??

@TinaWilliamsMumsnet Please can you clarify this answer?

I'm pregnant and due in Sep. I work full time in public sector, joint income of 70k.
I understand we won't be entitled to the 30hrs until Sep next year due to term start dates etc. Is this right??

What does 'recourse to public funds' mean?

Hi everyone,
I'm a FTM to a 10 week old boy and I am very worried about some of his behaviours. He only smiles, coos and makes some eye contact when lying down (for example when in his bed, when changing him, or when we play with him). When we hold him he looks everywhere but us, has a grumpy/sad face and doesn't smile or engage at all. Even when I try and sit him on my knees facing me, he avoids eye contact, doesn't smile or coo. He hates tummy time, but we are trying our best to do some during the day as we have noticed his neck is still a bit floppy. When we hold him up right he doesn't control his neck that well but other times he does - it's like he forgets how to do it? It's really difficult to describe. I have also noticed that he gets stiff when we hold him and then eventually he relaxes. I went to the gp a couple of days ago due to this breathing (as he has laryngomalacia and I thought he was grunting when excited and upset), she said he has a bit of redness on his throat. So I've mentioned some of this behaviours to her and she dismissed them: he is too young to have control of his neck (although I said I have seen a 11 week old baby holding his neck very well), the grumpy/ sad face and lack of eye contact when we hold him up right - to what she said 'do you like being held all the time?'. She basically said that he is a normal baby, she is not concerned about his muscle tone and he engaged with her when she was checking on him (which I pointed out that he was lying down).
Has anyone gone through this before with your babies? I am so worried and I feel like no one is listening to me ! Even my husband thinks he is perfect and because he does some of those things when lying down then it is ok. I am worried as I don't think this is a normal behaviour at all.
Can anyone share your thoughts please?
Thank you so much x