Universal funding - 15-hour funding for all 3- and 4-year-olds

All children living in England are eligible for 15 funded hours of childcare per week for 38 weeks per year starting from the term after they turn 3 years old. Their birthday must fall on or before the cut-off date as below:

• 3rd birthday on or before 31st August to receive funding in autumn term (September start)

• 3rd birthday on or before 31st December to receive funding in spring term (January start)

• 3rd birthday on or before 31st March to receive funding in summer term (April start)

To receive the 15-hour funding for 3- and 4-year-olds, you will be given a form to complete by your child’s childcare setting.

 

Working families funding - 30-hour funding for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds for working families

Children of working families* living in England, who meet the correct salary criteria are eligible for 30 funded hours of childcare for 38 weeks per year starting when they are 2-years-old.

Eligible children will have been able to get funding from age 9-months-old, so when children start at preschool aged 2-years, they will be able to claim straight away, assuming you have applied for your code by the cut of date for applications.

For 3-&-4-year-olds receiving the universal 15 hours funding for all children as above, the funding is combined, so 30 hours is the total can be claimed).

*Eligibility:

• Both parents (or the sole parent in a single parent family) need to be working and earning, on average, at least the equivalent of 16 hours on the national living/minimum wage per week. The number of hours worked is less important than the money earned, so if you are a high earner, you could be working only a few hours per week and still be eligible.

• If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.

• You can't get 30 hours free childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.

To receive the 30-hour funding for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds, you must apply for an eligibility code at the latest the term before you wish the funding to start.

The cut off dates for applications are the last day of the month before the term your child if due to start e.g.

• start date during the Autumn term (September-December), cut off is 31st August

• start date during the Spring term (January-March/April), cut off date is 31st December

• start date during the Summer term (April-July), cut off date is 31st March

Once your application has been processed, you will receive an eligibility code to give to your child’s childcare setting. Apply here Check you're eligible for free childcare if you're working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Funded 2’s funding - 15-hour funding for 2-year-olds of families receiving some forms of additional support

Some 2-year-olds living in England can get 15 funded hours of childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year if they qualify based on their family circumstances starting from the term after they turn 2 years old. Their birthday must fall on or before the cut-off date as below:

• 2nd birthday on or before 31st August to receive funding in autumn term (September start)

• 2nd birthday on or before 31st December to receive funding in spring term (January start)

• 2nd birthday on or before 31st March to receive funding in summer term (April start)

You can receive this funding if you qualify for:

• income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments

• child tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax

• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Or if the child:

• is looked after by a local authority

• has a statement of special education needs (SEN)or an education, health and care (EHC) plan

• gets Disability Living Allowance

• has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

To receive the 15-hour funding for 2-year-olds, you will receive an authorisation code which you can give to your child’s childcare setting. If you have not received any communication about the funding from the local authority, but believe you may be eligible, you can apply here Funded hours for eligible 2 year olds - Cambridgeshire County Council