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

[LibbyMumsnet]

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)

You need to apply by 31st December for a January start and if you're a return from mat leave then need to be back at work no later than 31st Jan.

Thanks for your question @Fancyquickthinker - we know juggling costs, holidays and changing schedules can be a lot.

Funded hours can’t usually be saved or carried over month to month, but some providers offer stretched funding across the year, which can help smooth things out. It’s worth checking with your provider if they can be flexible with changing days too.

Looking ahead to the school years, there is also more childcare support now for primary school-aged children, like free breakfast clubs and wraparound childcare.

You can find more info here: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

We understand it can feel confusing - you're not alone in finding invoices hard to follow @pushchairprincess

Local authorities are responsible for overseeing how nurseries deliver funded hours and making sure it’s being applied correctly. If you're unsure about how your funding is being used, you can contact your local council to ask for clarification or raise concerns. They should be able to help explain what you’re entitled to and how it’s being applied.

Hi @lillypopdaisyduke you can usually switch providers, but how easy it is depends on your current provider’s notice period. It's worth checking your contract first.

Thanks for your thoughtful questions @khalid66. We know how important it is to feel confident when planning childcare. You can find all the latest info including eligibility and information about the application process here: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Here’s a quick rundown:

Eligibility: Funded hours are for working parents (incl. self-employed) earning the equivalent of at least 16hrs/week at national minimum/living wage and under £100k adjusted net income per year).

Hours: You could get up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare over 38 weeks of the year, depending on your child’s age and your eligibility.

Full-time/part-time: You don’t have to use the full hours, and many providers offer flexible options such as 'stretching' the offer so you use fewer hours over more weeks.

UK regions: The offer is different outside England, so if you're in Scotland, Wales or NI, check local guidance.

Application: You apply online through GOV.UK and usually get confirmation within a few days. You’ll need to reconfirm every 3 months.

Heads up: Make sure your provider offers the funding, and apply in plenty of time before the termly deadline to avoid missing out.

Hi @LittleDeeAndME!

Applications for the 30 hours code are often processed straight away, but it can take up to 7 working days once submitted.

Always check with your provider or local authority if you’re worried about timing.

Hi @DenDenDenise Yes, your earnings will impact your eligibility. To be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) must be working and each earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or Living Wage, and neither parent's income can exceed £100,000 adjusted net income per year.

Here's a link to more information about eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/30-hours-childcare-support/working-families/eligibility

Hi @Britanniaa, great question. You'll need to reconfirm every three months, so when you change jobs or reduce your hours, just update your details when you next reconfirm. If you still meet the financial eligibility criteria, you’ll get a new code as usual.

Hi @ketchuporbrownsauce! If your nursery raises fees and it no longer works for your budget, you can switch to another setting or childminder that suits you better. Just check your current contract for any notice period, and talk to both providers to make the move smooth. Funding doesn’t transfer between settings, but your new provider can claim the remaining funded hours once you start with them. If you need help sorting this out, your local council should be able to advise you.

Hi @itsturtlesallthewaydown you can see a breakdown of cut off dates on the Childcare Choices website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/15-and-30-hours-childcare-support/working-families/how-it-works

If your child turns 9 months old between 1 April - 31 August , you can access funding from the term starting on or after 1 September.

There are 3 terms in total, starting 1 September, 1 January, 1 April.

Hi @LuckyRainbow777! Thanks for your question.

While there is no exhaustive list of what consumables can and cannot be charged for, your provider should be making clear to you what it is you are paying for. Providers cannot charge you top-up fees, business running costs, for materials necessary for childcare, registration fees as a condition of taking up an entitlements place, a non-refundable deposit for an entitlements place, general charges, or any other additional fee that is not specifically identified and itemised as being for a permitted voluntary extra. If you have any concerns about what you're paying for, please speak to your local council.

At the moment, the 30 hours funded childcare for under-3s isn’t universal and is only available to eligible working families. There aren’t any plans to offer universal 15 hours for under-3s like for 3- and 4-year-olds.

We understand how much of a difference this support makes to family budgets. Keep an eye on government announcements as policies can evolve, and charities or local councils may offer extra help too.

Thanks for your question @MidnightPatrol

Hello @ItalianChineseIndianMexican

Yes - you can split your funded hours between two settings, like a nursery and a childminder. Just let both providers know how you want to divide the hours, and make sure they’re both registered to receive funding. It’s a great way to fit childcare around your family’s needs!

If you currently receive 15 hours for working families, just reconfirm as usual and your code will work for the 30 hours offer in September, providing you remain eligible and your provider has confirmed your new attendance pattern for your increased hours.

Hope that helps @grizzlygrump !

You’re right @Amphonw there is a 15 hours universal childcare offer for all families in England with 3-4 year olds. 15 hours for children under-3 isn't automatic for all families, but some 2-year-olds can get 15 hours if their family gets certain benefits or support (like Universal Credit or Disability Living Allowance) so even if you’re not working, you might still qualify. It’s worth checking your eligibility on www.childcarechoices.gov.uk or with your local council to see if your little one is eligible.

You’re right to check @Pastashape - it can be confusing!

If you’re currently getting 15 funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare for your first child, you can usually keep receiving these as long as you meet the eligibility rules (like meeting the minimum income threshold).

If you don’t return to work after your second child, you might lose eligibility for some of the support, but you don’t have to pay back funding you’ve already received. Just keep an eye on your circumstances and update your details if things change.

If in doubt, contacting the childcare helpline with your specific details is best — they can check your case.

Hi @LittleDeeAndME - it’s best to update your details with the government when you are told to reconfirm. That way, your circumstances will be assessed and you will find out if you continue to be eligible.

If your reduction in hours means the government says you are no longer eligible for the working parent entitlement, you may be able to still use your entitlement place at your provider for a short time, known as a 'grace period'. You should speak to your provider about this.

Hi @custardcream1000 !

In your first year of self-employment, you don’t need to meet the usual earnings threshold straight away - you just need to show that you're planning to meet it. If your income is low in the early months, that’s okay, as long as you’re working towards the earnings requirement. Just make sure to confirm your details when reapplying for your code every 3 months.

Hope that helps.

Hello! You’ll need to apply for your 30 hours code before you start your new role if you want to use your funded hours from September. Since you’re starting your new job on 8th September, you can apply the term before that, if your new role means you meet the income criteria. Just make sure to apply by the end of August to get the code in time for the autumn term.

Hope that helps @Khanga27

Hi @Hattoi !

You can apply for the 30‑hour code once you’re working (or due to start work). To summarise:

• You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old
• If you're starting a new job, the date you start work may affect when you can apply. For more information you can visit _https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/30-hours-childcare-support/working-families/eligibility_

Regarding Tax‑Free Childcare:

• You set up an account and get topped-up every time you pay in
• There’s no expiry date on the money in your account - it stays until you spend it
• But the government top‑up resets each quarter (every 3 months), and you must reconfirm eligibility or your payments will stop
• The “bonus” isn’t lost, but if you don’t reconfirm in time, new top-ups halt until you update your details

Hi @beenherebefore9 Good question. You will be eligible for 30 hours for working parents the term after your DD turns 9 months. So assuming you meet the other eligibility criteria, your DD will get the 30 hours from 1 January. You'll need to by apply by 31 December.

Hi @MessageMystery! Children need to have turned 9 months to be eligible the following term so yes, she'll be eligible for the funded hours in January. Just make sure to apply in time – you’ll need to have a valid code by the end of December to use the funding from January. You can check your eligibility and see information about how to apply at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Great question! If you work term time hours, your funded hours usually cover the same term time period, over 38 weeks of the year - so you get the funded childcare during the school terms, not the holidays.

If you need childcare during holidays or outside term time, you’d usually have to pay for those hours yourself, as the funding generally doesn’t cover them. You could also use Tax-Free Childcare to help cover costs if your holiday childcare provider is registered to recieve Tax-Free Childcare payments.

Some nurseries might offer “wraparound childcare” schemes or holiday clubs separately, but that depends on the provider.

If your working pattern is unusual, it’s always worth checking with your nursery how they apply the funding for your specific situation.

Hope that helps @HobNobAddict!

The 30 hours funded childcare scheme is expanding from September to include little ones from 9 months old, which is fantastic news!

However, the funding usually starts from the beginning of the term after your child turns 9 months. So if your little one turns 9 months on 29 November, the funding would start from the next term - beginning in January.

Because you’re coming back to work in December, you might need to cover childcare costs yourself for that short period before the funded hours kick in. You can also use Tax-Free Childcare during this time to help with some of those costs, if your provider is signed-up to recieve payments.

It’s always a good idea to double-check with your nursery and apply for your funding code in good time so everything is lined up when your funded hours start.

Hope that helps clear things up @Newusername1234567 !

Hi @pippapumpkin - thanks for your question.

You should apply for your 30 hours code on GOV.UK. HMRC check your earnings when you apply - you don’t need to wait for your tax return. After you apply, HMRC may need to ask you for further information to assess eligiblity.

As long as you meet the minimum income threshold (the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage), you should be fine. Apply about a month before your child starts and remember to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months.

Good luck with preschool!