Help with childcare costs
Contents
Funding for working parents of 9 months to 4-year-olds
Working parents of 2, 3 and 4-year-olds who meet the criteria below can access 15 funded hours of early education. This is in addition to the 15 hours available for all 3 and 4-year-olds (30 hours per week in total).
From September 2024, the early education entitlement will expand to include working families of younger children so they can access 15 hours per week, increasing to 30 hours per week by September 2025.
The offer for younger children will be introduced in stages:
- From September 2024 - working parents of children aged 9 months to 23 months can access up to 15 hours
- From September 2025 - working parents of children aged 9 months upwards can access up to 30 hours
Depending on the childcare provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks during term time, or up to 52 weeks if fewer hours are accessed each week.
The funding is not intended to cover the costs of meals, nappies or additional activities, such as trips. Providers may charge a fee for these additions if they are required.
Eligible working parents
Funded hours will be available where both parents (or the sole parent in a lone parent family):
- are working and earn on average a weekly minimum amount equivalent to working 16 hours at either National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW)
- have an adjusted net income of less than £100,000 each per year
- live in England (parents who are non EEA nationals must have recourse to public funds to qualify)
You may still be eligible to apply if you or your partner:
- are taking paid time off work, such as maternity leave, paternity leave or sick leave
- are temporarily away from England for a period of up to 6 months, such as on military duty
Eligibility can be checked on the Childcare Choices website.
When can the entitlements be used
Children are entitled to the funded hours from the term after they turn the relevant age to use that entitlement.
Date children are entitled to funded hours
| When your child turns the relevant age | Can have a funded place from |
|---|
|
1 January to 31 March
|
1 April (Summer)
|
|
1 April to 31 August
|
1 September (Autumn)
|
|
1 September to 31 December
|
1 January (Spring)
|
How to apply
Applications must be made via the Childcare Choices website.
Parents will need the following information before starting the application:
- National insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if self-employed)
- the date you started or are due to start work
- details of any government support or benefits you receive
- the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child
There is a separate application process for foster carers.
When to apply
Children can take up their early education hours from the term after all the eligibility criteria has been met. These terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September.
Parents need to apply via Childcare Choices before the deadline. The deadline is the day before the new term begins, however, parents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and at least 6 weeks before the deadline.
The deadlines are:
Childcare choices deadlines
| When parents would like to use their entitlements from | The deadline to apply for a code |
|---|
|
1 January
|
31 December
|
|
1 April
|
31 March
|
|
1 September
|
31 August
|
If parents do not apply by the deadline, they will not be able to take up their entitlements in that term.
Parents on parental leave applying for a working family eligibility code
Parents applying for childcare for an older child who is not the reason for their parental leave can continue to apply as before regardless of their return-to-work date.
Parents on parental leave for example, maternity leave who are applying for an eligibility code for the child who is the reason for the leave, or for parents starting a new job, the date parents return to work will affect when the working family entitlements can be accessed.
Parents on parental leave applying for a working family eligibility code
| Date of starting or returning to work | When parent can apply from | When parent can access their entitlement |
|---|
| 1 October to 31 january |
1 September to 31 December |
1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April |
1 January to 31 March |
1 April |
| 1 May to 30 September |
1 April to 31 August |
1 September |
What happens next
Once eligibility is confirmed parents are given an 11 digit 'eligibility code'. You can find this in your gov.uk childcare service account and in your 'secure messages'.
You will need to take your eligibility code, National Insurance number and child's date of birth to your chosen childcare provider. They will ask you to complete and sign a 'Parental Declaration Form' to give them consent to check and confirm your eligibility through Cheshire East’s Provider Portal.
You do not need to apply through Childcare Choices if you only want to use the 15 hours of funding for all 3 and 4-year-olds or want to apply for funding for 2 year olds if you receive certain benefits
Reconfirming your eligibility for the working parents’ entitlement
You will need to reconfirm your eligibility every three months to continue claiming the funded hours. You should receive a prompt from Childcare Choices to remind you to do this. However, it is advisable to make a note of your renewal date yourself to make sure you don't miss the deadline and lose out on your funding.
If you miss your reconfirmation window, your eligibility will lapse. However, if your child is already in a place a grace period for your funded hours will apply. This means your child can continue in their place for a short time, but you need to reconfirm your code as soon as possible.
Page last reviewed: 13 August 2024
Thank you for your feedback.