NURSERY EDUCATION ENTITLEMENT

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

You do not have to use the full entitlement if you don't want to.

The 15/30 hours entitlement can be shared with another provider if you wish, but you cannot claim for more than 15/30 hours a week in total.

The entitlement stops once your child starts reception class in a state school

If your child is 2 to 3 years old and you get extra support

You can get 30 hours of free childcare through 2 separate schemes if both of the following apply:  

• you’re eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents 
• you or your child get extra support

You’ll get: 

• 15 hours per week if you or your child get extra support (you’ll continue to get these hours even if you are no longer eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents)
• 15 hours per week through Free Childcare for Working Parents

You’ll get these 30 hours for 38 weeks of the year. You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks.

To apply, you need to speak to the early years team or Family Information Service at your local council. 

What counts as extra support

You’re classed as getting extra support if any of the following apply: 

• you get Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• your child has an Education and Health Care plan
• your child gets Disability Living Allowance
• your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

How soon after my child’s birthday can I access these schemes? 

Currently, children become eligible for funded early education and childcare the term after they reach the relevant age. For example, a child will be eligible for the 30 hours offer from the term after they turn three.

This is also dependent on applying for, and receiving, your eligibility code before the end of the term in which your child reaches the relevant age. For example, if your child reaches the relevant age on 25 March but you don’t apply for the 30 hours until 5 April, your child won’t be eligible for a funded place until 1 September (i.e. the start of the autumn term).

You can apply for the two-year-old offer when your children is one year and 36 weeks, and for the 30 hours offer for three- and four-year-olds when your child is two years and 36 weeks.