Funding for Families 

The government has a range of childcare offers to support parents of children aged 9 months – 4 years. You can find more information at Childcare Choices.

The funded hours are called early education entitlements (EEE) and children can access up to 15 or 30 hours for 38 weeks of the year. Some childcare providers allow you to stretch those hours over more weeks of the year by taking fewer hours each week.  

Childcare support for working families

Working families of children aged 9 months to 4 years can access up to 15 or 30 hours of funded early education entitlement with a registered childcare provider. You can make an application and find out more information from the Childcare Choices website.

Childcare support for 2-year-olds

Families of 2-year-olds who meet the governments eligibility criteria can access up to 15 hours of funded early education with a registered childcare provider. Once eligibility is confirmed, eligibility will remain until school age even if a family’s circumstances change.

Check eligibility

Since April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education with a registered childcare provider for 38 weeks of the year. Parents can apply and confirm their eligibility.

Childcare support for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of funded early education with a registered childcare provider. This is open to all and is irrespective of income or immigration status.

Eligible working parents will be entitled to an additional 15 hours of funded early education, meaning they can access up to 30 hours with a registered childcare provider for 38 weeks of the year.

Help to pay for childcare: Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-free Childcare is a government scheme to support working parents with childcare costs. If eligible, you set up an online childcare account which you can use to pay your childcare provider directly.

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.

If you get Tax-Free Childcare, the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider via an online account.

You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours of free childcare if you’re eligible for both.