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)

He also needs to earn over the threshold, either part time work around his studies or delaying until you dont need funded childcare.

Can I start a new business and be eligible for the 30h? Do we apply on gov website or with the childcare provider ?

My child is 18m now. I’m not sure how much I would earn.

also why do they only give this to
working parents I have mental health issues and need a real break.

thanks

Hello I’ve just moved to Thames Ditton and am looking for any good recommendations for a family suitable & good/highly rated dentist and doctors surgery. I’m ok with the the dentist being private. Im coming from Wandsworth way so not too familiar with area, and any recommendations would be such help! Especially dentists. Thank you :)

Is it possible to check who is eligible, e.g., online calculator?

What to do when you have no money for 160 food shop and have been everywhere and 2 everyone for support can’t get it I have to children ages 4 and 5 and currently in the summer holidays and not paid until the 18th school uniforms have made this month way harder but running out of food fast and can’t get any help any ideas?
thankyou in advance

I am currently self employed my little girl turns 3 in December but looking at the eligibility for the funded 30 hrs from 9 months we won't qualify as i'm not earning over £195 a week regularly. (We currently get 15 hrs funded) My husband works full time and earns over that amount. Is there any allowance for being self employed? Or do we just pay and wait till the 30hrs at age 3 starts in January after her 3rd birthday? Thanks for reading!

If my husband is on non statutory paternity leave (unpaid, or paid less than the minimum amount) are we still eligible? Paternity leave is for a different child than the nursery attending 3 year old.

Is it reasonable to pay a top up hourly rate?

Why should any nursery offer funded places? Lots of nurseries spend more to look after funded children than they receive for them and only make it viable by charging top ups in some way or other. There are fewer and fewer staff and nurseries are closing all over the place so demand way outstrips supply. Surely a nursery would be better off without funded places?

Simply put - yes, a big resounding yes. The government do not, never have and never will pay the full amount it costs to supply spaces. Instead they pit settings against parents in an endless battle all whilst trying to look they look like the good guys. They have knowingly underfunded settings for years, they promise an influx of money but this equates to pennies, not pounds. They then add more and more rules and stipulations so, despite those few extra pennies, settings are in more of a financial crisis than ever before.

sadly, no setting is allowed to call it a top so they have to find other ways to cover the shortfall to prevent them from going out of business.

Without making up the shortfall, settings go bankrupt. They’re already closing in droves. Very soon, there will be all these magical hours available to parents but no settings to supply the places. Families will be worse off than they were before because they will be scrabbling about desperately trying to find care. Instead of getting more people into work, more will be leaving due to the lack of childcare spaces.

The funded childcare is amazing for parents, I really do think it’s a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, it is coming to the detriment of settings and just can’t carry on the way it is.

Hey @Flowersanddaisies - totally understandable to feel worried about how things will work - especially with both of you working full time, no nearby family support, and your husband’s epilepsy to consider.

The good news is:

From September 2025, eligible working parents can access 30 hours of funded childcare from when their child is 9 months old

You can also use Tax-Free Childcare - the government tops up what you pay in by 20%, and it can be used for nurseries, childminders, nannies and wraparound care (as long as they’re registered).

If safety at home is a concern, some families use registered childminders for more flexible and personalised support. You could also use a nanny who comes into your home, but you can't use the funded hours with nannies.

When the time comes, your local Family Information Service can help you explore what’s available near you and talk through your options.

You’re doing the right thing by thinking it through early - and there is support out there to help you make it work.

Hey @BuggyBattles - you can start using the funded hours from 1st January 2026 - that’s the beginning of the next term after your child becomes eligible.

You can apply ahead of time to make sure everything’s in place. Applications for the January term usually open the term before, and you can apply up to 16 weeks before your child turns 9 months old, so you’d typically apply in the autumn (around mid-October to early November). You’ll need to reconfirm your details every 3 months, so applying too early can mean needing to reconfirm before using the hours.

Keep an eye on Childcare Choices (childcarechoices.gov.uk), which will let you know exactly when to apply based on your child’s date of birth.

Thanks for your question @Sheaintnomamyet - it’s totally understandable to want to make the most of your time off while also trying to plan ahead for childcare costs.

To qualify for the funded hours from January, you'll need to meet the working criteria by 30 September — which usually means being in paid work (including self-employment) and earning at least the minimum income threshold.

Keeping in touch (KIT) days on their own don’t count as officially returning to work, as you're still classed as being on maternity leave until you formally return. So if you're relying on funded hours starting in January, you'd need to return to work by the end of September.

We know that for many parents the timings can feel unfair - especially when they hinge on a child’s exact birthdate - but hopefully that helps clarify how it works. If you haven’t already, it might also be worth checking if you’re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare to help cover some of the costs in the meantime.

Hi @Vicky19891 - this is a great question, and it’s something that does come up for lots of parents navigating the timing.

To access the funded hours from the start of a term, you need to have applied by the end of the term before. So if you're starting work in February (mid-way through the spring term), you wouldn’t usually be eligible for funding until the start of the summer term in April. For more information on how the date you start work can affect when you take up the hours, you can have a look at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/30-hours-childcare-support/working-families/eligibility

Some nurseries might offer flexibility or allow you to delay payments in anticipation of funding, but that’s separate to the government’s rules. It's definitely worth double-checking with your provider and applying for the funding code once you’re eligible - and before the termly deadline.

You're very welcome @OliveMoonLight - this is another really good question, and we know the income rules can be a bit tricky to navigate.

To qualify for the funded childcare, both parents (in a couple) need to expect to be earning the minimum threshold during the 3-month period after they apply. You need to apply by the end of the term before you want to take up a place- and you can do so if your partner is due to start a new job by the end of the first month of the following term. This means you can apply

• by 31 August if you return to/start work by 30 September
• by 31 December if you return to/start work by 31 January
• by 31 March if you return to/ start work by 30 April

So in your case, if your partner starts a new job after 30 September, you wouldn’t be eligible for the funding until January.

However, if he's starting the new job before the end of September and is on track to meet the earnings threshold in the 3 months following your application, then you may still be eligible - even if the job is part-time. It’s all about the income earned during the qualifying period.

Hope that helps clear it up a bit. Let us know if you need help working out the threshold or timings.

Thanks for your question @Khud1. To access the funding for the summer term, you need apply by 31 March, if you expect to meet the income threshold in the three months following your application. If you're still on shared parental leave during that time, you may not qualify unless you're back at work and earning above the threshold. Worth keeping an eye on your return date if you’re hoping to use the funding then.

Thanks for laying this out — it’s a really thoughtful and honest overview, and we know how tricky this juggle can be, especially with having family abroad.

To pick out a few key points:

You’re right that if your little one turns 1 in February and you're not working yet, you'd likely apply by 31 March for the April term — assuming you meet the income thresholds by then. It's worth discussing your trip with your nursery and checking their policy on prolonged absence.

If you’re likely to need care only 2–3 days a week for around 34–40 weeks, a term-time nursery place could make sense, though these can be hard to find and may have less flexibility for working hours (especially late pick-ups). A childminder could definitely be a more flexible option — some are term-time only and may be more open to working around holidays or irregular schedules. That said, many do charge a retainer to hold a place if you’re taking extended time off, so it’s something to ask about.

Overall, it may come down to the provider’s flexibility and what kind of care environment suits your family best. You’re clearly planning carefully — and that will pay off.

Hope this has been helpful @FluffyCl0ud!

Hi @Twinnietwin - for the childcare funding, the £100k annual limit applies to each parent individually and is assessed across the full tax year (6 April to 5 April). So if your total adjusted net income income goes over £100,000 during the year, you will stop being eligible at the point you reconfirm.

It's also worth saying that this is based on adjusted net income, which does not include things like:

-donations made to charities through Gift Aid
-pension contributions

• trading losses

So yes, the 3-month check is for the minimum earnings, but the £100k adjusted net income is an annual cap, and if you earn over that amount you will stop being eligible for the 30 hours until the next financial year.

Thanks for your message @Jemariar. If your little one turns 9 months by September 2025, you may be eligible for the 30 hours funded childcare now to start in September 2025.

If you're already getting Tax-Free Childcare, you should receive a 30 hours code in your childcare account when you next reconfirm your eligibility, so you don't need to apply separately.

Hi @Andreiafbr - the 30 hours funded childcare scheme is only available in England. For Northern Ireland, please see this page for childcare support:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/help-paying-approved-childcare

Hi @SuzSETAREH,

You should apply for childcare funding in plenty of time before your child starts nursery to avoid missing any deadlines. Since you plan to start nursery full-time in April, aiming to apply around February or early March would be best, but bear in mind you need to get your 30 hours code by 31 March if you want to use 30 hours from 1st April.

You do have the right to request flexible working hours, like reduced days or shorter hours. It’s a good idea to speak openly with your employer about your situation and how flexible hours could help.

If you’re feeling unsure about how to approach this, there are plenty of resources and advice out there to support you.

Here’s a helpful link with advice on requesting flexible working at work, including how to approach your employer:
https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working

Also, Mumsnet’s community has lots of personal experiences and tips if you want to see how other parents have handled similar situations.

Hi,My little one will go to nursery on 1 September and I will start to work on 8 September.When should I apply for a code? And do I have to pay extra for a few days As my baby go to nursery before I start to work?

There’s no outright ban on registration fees, but nurseries can’t make you pay one as a condition of accessing funded hours. From April 2025, government guidance says all charges must be clearly voluntary and not tied to receiving the funded entitlement.

So if a nursery is requiring a non-refundable registration fee just to access your funded place, that’s not allowed. You can ask for a breakdown of charges, and if needed, raise it with your local authority. Hope this helps @MidnightPatrol

Hi there!

im looking for some advice it’s a long shot because i dont feel many people will have been in my situation however, im 7 months pregnant and me and the babies dad split due to me finding out he had been cheating for 6 months!
he hasn’t attended any appointments regarding pregnancy nor has taken an interest but has now informed me he wants to take me to court, I have explained he is more than welcome to come to my house and see the baby for a few hours a time 2/3 times a week but is saying he won’t be doing that and expects to have him on his own and do overnight visits which I said will Come in time but brining in like this will be a newborn that I’m going to breast feed. Where do I stand and what would courts rule.

thanks