Funding Entitlements
Early Years Childcare
15 hours and 30 hours childcare
The Current Offer
Eligible working parents and carers of children aged 3-4 can get an additional 15 hours of childcare support, bringing the total support they can get up to 30 hours a week. Eligible working parents of 2-years-olds can also access 15 hours of childcare.
Expanded Offer
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-years-old can access 15 hours childcare support. By September 2025, most working families with children aged between 0 months and 5 years old will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.
How many hours childcare can you get per week?
Some parents of 2-year-old children may also be entitled to 15 hours childcare support, if they receive some additional forms of government support. Please note, if you’re eligible for both the working entitlement and the 15 hours for families receiving support, you cannot take up both offers, and should apply for the 15 hours for families receiving support. You can do this by contacting your local authority.
Your hours can be used per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time). You may be able use your hours for up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.
You can use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare whilst claiming your 15 or 30 hours of childcare support.
The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families. This means that:
From September 2024
15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
From September 2025
Eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.
Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week
| Age 9 months - 2 years | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Working families |
|||
|
15 Hours |
Sept 2024 |
||
|
30 Hours |
Sept 2025 |
||
| Age 2 - 3 years | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Families receiving government support |
|||
|
15 Hours |
Now |
||
|
Working Families |
|||
|
15 Hours |
Now |
||
|
30 Hours |
Sept 2025 |
||
| Age 3 - 4 years | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
All parents |
|||
|
15 Hours |
Now |
||
|
Working Families |
|||
|
30 Hours |
Now |
||
*38 weeks a year. Eligibility criteria apply. Providers may ask for additional charges.
Wraparound childcare
Wraparound childcare is expanding
From September 2024, you can expect to see an increase in the number of wraparound childcare places available across the country.
What is wraparound childcare?
Wraparound childcare is before and after school childcare, such as breakfast clubs and after school provision for primary school aged children in England.
The provision typically runs from 8am until 6pm, during term time, either on a school site or another local setting such as a community centre, a nursery, or a childminder.
This is different from out-of-school activities, or school clubs, which are less frequent and can be a one-off activity.
Who will be eligible for wraparound childcare?
All parents in England with primary school aged children should be able to access wraparound childcare by September 2026.
How do I access wraparound childcare?
Speak to your child’s school or local authority’s Family Information Service to find out what wraparound childcare is currently available in your area.
If wraparound childcare is not currently available, you can request that your child’s school consider setting up wraparound childcare for your child if they don’t already provide it. To request wraparound childcare from your child’s school, write to them by letter or email.
How do I pay for wraparound childcare?
Providers will set their own fees for wraparound places, so prices will vary. Once you have chosen a provider, you would pay them directly for your child’s place.
If you are eligible, you will be able to use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare to help pay for your place. Check what support is available to you by using the childcare eligibility checker.
To find out more:
Speak to your child’s school or local authority’s Family Information Service.
How to use Tax-Free Childcare
For every £8 you pay in, the government will automatically add £2, up to the value of £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children).
1. Check you're eligible
You can’t use Tax-Free Childcare together with Tax Credits, Universal Credit Childcare or Childcare Vouchers.
2. Apply for Tax-Free Childcare
If eligible, you’ll get an online childcare account.
3. Select your childcare provider(s)
Your childcare provider(s) must sign up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.
4. Pay money into your Childcare Account
You can deposit money into your childcare account using a debit card, but it’s quicker by standing order or bank transfer. We’ll add the government top up automatically and you can use this money when it shows as ‘available’.
5. Pay your childcare provider(s)
Use the money in your childcare account, including the government top up, to make one off or regular payments to your childcare provider(s).
6. Reconfirm
To continue getting the government top-up, you must confirm your details are up to date every 3 months.
You will receive a reminder to do this.
Our Location
Southborough Pre-School
Southborough Lane
Bromley, Kent BR2 8AA
Tel: 020 8467 0108
Email: [email protected]
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