Funded early education and childcare for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds

Working parents of three- and four-year-olds may be entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare and early education per week, for 38 weeks of the year if certain criteria is met. This is known as the Extended Offer.

You do not have to use the full 30 hours each week
Your childcare provider may allow you to spread the funded hours across the year if they are open all-year-round. For example, if they are open 51 weeks of the year, they could offer you 22.25 funded hours a week
You should check that your chosen childcare provider accepts this method of payment
You can claim up to 30 funded hours between up to three providers but you cannot claim hours at more than two providers in a day

Check if you're eligible on the Childcare Choices website.

When to apply

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

If your child turns three years old between 1 September and 31 December:

Your 30 hours funded childcare can start on or after 1 January at the beginning of the spring term
We recommend you apply between 15 October and 30 November

If your child turns three years old between 1 January and 31March:

Your 30 hours funded childcare can start on or after 1 April at the beginning of the summer term
We recommend you apply between 15 January and 28 February

If your child turns three years old between 1 April and 31 August:

Your 30 hours funded childcare can start on or after 1 September at the beginning of the autumn term
We recommend you apply between 15 June and 31 July

You can apply on the Childcare Choices website.

If you're unable to apply online, you can call the HMRC Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097.

If your application is successful, you will get an online childcare account and a code to get 30 hours funded childcare. You will need to give this code to your childcare provider.

You will continue to get 30 hours funded childcare as long as you are eligible and your code remains valid.

You need to reconfirm you are eligible every three months. You can do this using your online childcare account. You will get a reminder to do this four weeks before the renewal deadline.

Funded childcare for foster carers

If you are a foster carer who works outside of your fostering role, you can get 30 hours funded childcare for your foster child. You can claim this from the term after your foster child turns three.

You will need to speak to your foster child's social worker to apply.

Further information

If you have any further questions about 30 hours funded childcare: