‘Free childcare’ guide for parents

There are several different entitlements available, which have different eligibility
criteria. These are set out below.

Working parents entitlement

Child’s age: From the term after they turn 9 months until they start school

Eligibility: For working parents – explained here

What you can receive: 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year. Can be combined with the universal entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds to make up 30 hours.

How to apply: Speak to your chosen childcare provider about if they can offer a place.
You apply online here. Applications for children aged from 9 months open on 12 May, 2024.

For parents of 2 year olds receiving some additional forms of government support

Child’s age: From the term after they turn 2- years-old

Eligibility: Explained here

What you can receive: 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year.

How to apply: Speak to your chosen childcare provider about if they can offer a place. Speak to your local authority about free childcare places for eligible two year olds. You may be able to find advice online on your local authority’s website.

Universal entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds

Child’s age: From the term after they turn 3-years old through to starting school

Eligibility: All 3- and 4-year-olds are eligible

What you can receive: 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year. Can be combined with the working parents entitlement to make up 30 hours.

How to apply: Speak to your chosen childcare provider about if they can offer a place, and take them your child’s birth certificate.

Your provider may agree to ‘stretch’ your entitlement by using fewer hours over more than 38 weeks per year. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.
It is not possible to use more than 15 hours (or 30, if your child is 3 or 4) in a week, but you don’t have to use your full entitlement if you don’t want to.

You can start using your entitlements from the term after your child turns the relevant age to use that entitlement. The relevant age for the working parent entitlement is 9 months old.

When your child turns the relevant age: 1 January to 31 March
When they can get their hours from: Term starting on or after 1 April.

When your child turns the relevant age: 1 April to 31 August (Applications open 12 May in 2024 as part of transitional arrangements)
When they can get their hours from: Term starting on or after 1 September.

When your child turns the relevant age: 1 September to 31 December
When they can get their hours from: Term starting on or after 1 January.

You are only able to claim the entitlements from the term after they become the relevant age because this gives local authorities and childcare providers enough time to prepare. If you’re not working when your child turns the relevant age for the working parent entitlement, you may have to wait until the term after you start working to be eligible.

You apply online here on Gov.uk. You’ll need to make sure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:

• Your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are 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.

For children from 9 months old (aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31st August) parents can apply from 12 May to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024. We have ensured the HMRC helplines will be open on 12 May if you choose to apply then and experience any difficulties.

If you are a foster carer, there is a separate application process. Speak to your social worker to find out more.

We recommend you contact your chosen provider as early as possible to secure your place.

You will be able to take up your free hours from the term after you meet all the eligibility criteria for the entitlement you are applying for. These terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September.

You need to apply on Gov.uk before the deadline to receive a code for free childcare to give to your childcare provider.

The deadline is the day before the new term begins, but we encourage you to apply earlier, and recommend applying at least 6 weeks before the deadline. Some providers may ask for codes before the deadline, so we recommend you speak to your provider to find out if this is the case.

When you would like to use your entitlements from: 1 January
The deadline to apply for a code: 31 December

When you would like to use your entitlements from: 1 April
The deadline to apply for a code: 31 March

When you would like to use your entitlements from: 1 September
The deadline to apply for a code: 31 August

If you do not apply by the deadline, you will not be able to take up your entitlements in that term.

For parents applying for free childcare starting in September 2024:

It’s important to remember that codes need to be reconfirmed every three months, so parents applying any time before 1 June will need to reconfirm their code prior to the offer starting in September.

For children from 9 months old (aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31st August) parents can apply from 12 May. There is no limit on the number of codes available, so you don’t have to apply on 12 May itself.

We recommend, however, that you reach out now to your preferred provider to check by when they will require your code and that you apply by the start of the school summer holidays.

When you apply you may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take longer if you need to provide further information. Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code for free childcare to give to your childcare provider.

You’ll need to take the code to your childcare provider, along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s date of birth.

Your childcare provider will check the code and then allocate your child a place if available.
We recommend parents speak with their chosen provider about when they will be able to offer them a place.

We know that some providers are able to amend invoices if they have issued them before a parent has received their code, so we recommend you speak to your provider if you are in this situation.

Working parents in England who each earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage are eligible.

From April 2024, you’re eligible if you earn at least:

Your age: 21 and over
Yearly: £9,518
3 months: £2,379
Monthly: £793
Weekly: £183

Your age: 18 to 20
Yearly: £7,155
3 months: £1,788
Monthly: £596
Weekly: £137

Your age: Under 18 or an apprentice
Yearly: £5,324
3 months: £1,331
Monthly: £443
Weekly: £102

You can earn up to £100,000 adjusted net income per year and be eligible. If you have a partner who lives with you, they must also earn between these two amounts. The £100,000 adjusted net income level was chosen to correspond with income tax thresholds. See our eligibility criteria for more information, including the income requirements for those who are self-employed.

Eligibility is calculated on an individual basis rather than by household. This means if you have a partner who lives with you, you must both individually earn between these two amounts. There is an exception to this if you are in a couple and one person is claiming one of the following benefits:

• Carer’s Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance or
• Certain additional elements of Universal Credit

In which case you may still be eligible.

If you are applying for childcare for an older child, who is not the subject of the parental leave, you can apply as normal.

You can also apply for the child that is the subject of the parental leave, though when you return to work will affect when you can take up the childcare. If you plan to return to work from parental leave or start a new job by the end of September 2024, you can apply for a free childcare code from 12 May at the same time as everyone else.

Parents in this situation will need to apply online as normal but will then receive a letter in the post within 1 to 2 weeks, enabling them to access their entitlement.

From 1st October, the below dates will apply:

Date of starting or returning work: 1 October to 31 January
When you can apply from: 1 September to 31 December
When you can access your entitlements from: 1 January

Date of starting or returning work: 1 February to 30 April
When you can apply from: 1 January to 31 March
When you can access your entitlements from: 1 April

Date of starting or returning work: 1 May to 31 September
When you can apply from: 1 April to 31 August
When you can access your entitlements from: 1 September

If you have needed to reconfirm your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare before 12 May and won’t have another reconfirmation window opening until after the 9th June, you will receive a letter from HMRC containing a valid temporary code and instructions on how to use it to claim your entitlement. If you haven’t received your letter by 24 May, you should contact HMRC.

Please make sure that all your contact details on your childcare account are up to date, so that we can contact you if we need to about your childcare. These letters should be with affected parents by 24 May, well in advance of provider deadlines.

There is no need to contact HMRC before 24th May, unless you haven’t received your letter by that date. In due course, you will also need to reconfirm your digital code as normal through your Childcare Account when your reconfirmation window opens, and you should then take your digital code to your provider.

Some parents with existing Tax-Free Childcare accounts may have reconfirmation windows opening before 9th June. If this is you, you will not receive a letter as your reconfirmation window will open in good time for you to register for a code digitally and give it to your provider. We’re confident that all parents will be able to get codes by the time they need them, and there is no limit on the number of codes available.

If you have two codes, one from your letter beginning with 11 and one from the website beginning with 50, please give your provider the code from the website beginning with 50, as this is your permanent digital code for your child. If you only have one code (beginning with 11) then you can use this code to start using your entitlements. Please remember that if you used a temporary code beginning with 11, that once your reconfirmation window opens, you will still need to reconfirm your eligibility through your Childcare Account and share the digital code (beginning with 50) that you will receive at that time with your provider.

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria. Whilst you cannot claim Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare at the same time, those on Universal Credit will still be able to claim the working parents entitlement, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.

This will not affect your ability to claim Universal Credit. If you are taking up more than 15 hours childcare (or 30 hours if you are also using the universal entitlement), you can claim Universal Credit Childcare, which can support you with up to 85% of the cost of additional childcare you pay for outside your entitlement to 15 hours. Please see the Universal Credit childcare costs page for more information.

Alternatively, there is a separate entitlement which means that parents of 2 year olds who are already receiving some additional forms of government support, such as Universal Credit or tax credits, can receive 15 hours of early education, including childcare. This is separate from the new entitlement for working parents.

All parents regardless of employment status, family circumstances, or income levels are eligible for the universal 15 hours for 3- and 4-year-olds.

You need to log into your childcare account every 3 months to reconfirm that your details are up to date and that you remain eligible for the childcare entitlements for working parents and/or Tax-Free Childcare.

Yes, you will receive a reminder:

• When your reconfirmation window opens
• A week before your reconfirmation deadline
• And on your reconfirmation deadline.

This message will come from HMRC. Please remember to make sure that your details are up to date.

In most cases, reconfirmation should only take a few minutes, but it may take longer if you need to provide further information.

You need to log into your childcare account using your Government Gateway ID to reconfirm. The dates between which you should reconfirm will be displayed when you log in.

In September 2025, the 15 hours for working parents of children under 3 will expand to 30 hours, meaning eligible working parents will be able to claim 30 hours of childcare all the way through from the term after their child turns 9 months to school age.

If your chosen provider doesn’t have a place available, we advise that you explore other providers in your local area.

Your local authority can provide support with finding a free place in your area.

Children in foster care who are aged 9 months to 4-years-old could also be eligible for the working parent entitlements, provided the foster parent is in paid work outside their fostering role and does not expect their adjusted net income to exceed £100,000.

There is no minimum income requirement for foster parents, however the local authority who is responsible for the child must confirm it is satisfied that the foster parent’s paid work other than their fostering role is consistent with the child’s care plan.

Foster parents cannot use the online Childcare Service application to get free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local council if you want to apply.

Students who work in addition to studying are eligible for this entitlement if they meet the income requirements.

Students who do not work are not eligible, but other schemes are available for those in further or higher education. If you’re a full-time student, you may be eligible for help with your childcare costs. Further information can be found here.

If you are eligible for the working parents entitlement but were unable to take up a free place in time due to a technical issue with your application. You may be eligible for compensation if, for example:

• You applied before the deadline but your code has a start which is on/after the start of the term, or
• You were unable to reconfirm your eligibility due to a system error.

You must have a national insurance number to apply. If you have a partner who lives with you, they must also have a national insurance number. If you are the parent who is making the application you must have at least one of the following:

• British or Irish citizenship
• Settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision
• Permission to access public funds – your UK residence card will tell you if you can’t do this.

• If you, or your partner is unable to work because you get one of the following benefits, you could still be eligible for the working parent entitlement as long as you have a partner who is working and meets the eligibility criteria:
  •
• Carer’s Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance or
• Certain additional elements of Universal Credit

However, if you are a single parent on one of these benefits you will also need to be working and meet the income requirements to be eligible for the working parents entitlement.

Claiming Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment for yourself or your child does not automatically grant you eligibility to use this entitlement. You would still need to be working and meet the income requirements in order to claim it.

However, parents who are already receiving some additional forms of government support, can receive 15 hours of funded early education, including childcare, for 2-year-olds. This is separate from the new entitlement for working parents and is available to parents whose child is entitled to Disability Living Allowance. All parents regardless of employment status or income levels are eligible for the universal 15 hours for 3- and 4-year-olds.

Government funding is to deliver your 15 or 30 hours of free, high quality, flexible childcare. It does not cover additional hours, activities or extra costs, such as meals. Your provider should provide invoices and receipts that are clear, transparent and itemised to see you have received your child’s free entitlements and understand any fees for additional hours or services.

You may have to pay for, or provide your own:

• Meals
• Other consumables, like nappies
• Additional hours
• Additional services or activities, like trips.

However, charges for consumables or additional hours should not be made a condition of accessing a free place.

You should not be charged:

• A top-up fee
• A non-refundable registration fee.

You may wish to speak to your local authority or your provider about any additional charges on top of the funded childcare hours, including any alternative options they offer.

If you wish to use your entitlements later than the term after your child turns the relevant age, then you can apply closer to the time you wish to start. Provided you still meet the eligibility criteria for that entitlement at that time, you will not lose your ability to apply.

No, you are not able to use the entitlements for a nanny or a home carer.

No. You cannot use the entitlements for free hours of childcare provided by a relative, such as a grandparent.

Yes, a parent who is already using the childcare service for another child can add a new child to their account at any time.

If you miss your reconfirmation window, your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare and/or your childcare entitlements will lapse. However, if your child is already in a place a grace period for your free childcare will apply. This means your child can continue in their place for a short time, but you need to submit another application as soon as you can to keep getting the childcare entitlements and/or Tax-Free Childcare.

You can submit a new application any time you meet the eligibility criteria for childcare entitlements or Tax-Free Childcare. You must then present your code to your provider to confirm your place can continue.

Parents of 2-year-olds who are already receiving some additional forms of government support can also receive up to 15 hours a week, over 38 weeks of the year, of fully funded early education. This includes childcare. This is separate from the new entitlement for working parents. Speak to your local council about free childcare places for eligible 2-year-olds. You may be able to find advice online on your local authority’s website.

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:

• 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
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).

You can also apply for this entitlement if your 2-year old:

• Is looked after by a local authority
• Has 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.

Some households that have no recourse to public funds may be eligible for this entitlement for their 2-year-old. Please see this page for more information.

You cannot use the working parents entitlement and the entitlement for families receiving some additional forms of support at the same time for the same child. Families of 2-year-olds who meet the eligibility criteria for both offers should apply only for the entitlement for families receiving some additional forms of government support, which avoids the need to reconfirm entitlement every 3 months.

This will change in September 2025, when the working parent entitlement expands to 30 hours. Parents of two year olds who are eligible for both entitlements will be able to claim 15 hours from each entitlement.

All 3- and 4-year-olds who live in England are entitled to this offer irrespective of your income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances.

All those aged 3 to starting school in England can get 570 free hours per year through this entitlement. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks if your childcare provider offers this option.

You can get it from the 1 January, 1 April or 1 September after your child’s 3rd birthday.
Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.

Yes.

Take your child’s birth certificate and speak to your chosen provider.

You can also apply for Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit childcare. You cannot use both of these at the same time.

Tax-Free Childcare can be used to help pay for any additional hours above the hours you are claiming through your entitlements. It can also be used to pay for certain additional services that are charged by your provider. You pay into the account, and HMRC will top up this amount by 20%, up to a value of £2,000 per year, or up to £4,000 per year if your child is disabled.

Universal Credit can help with the costs of childcare. You may be able to claim up to 85 per cent of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit and meet some additional conditions.

You may be able to use these other forms of support to help pay for childcare that is not covered through the entitlements. For example, you can use it to help pay for any additional hours, or to pay for a nanny if your nanny has registered on the Voluntary part of the General Childcare Register. It can also be used to pay for certain additional services that are charged by your provider.

Yes. The Early Years Pupil Premium is additional funding for your provider to support children whose families get certain benefits. Its purpose is to enhance learning and development support for children, ultimately improving their outcomes.

You can find out more about this on this page: Get extra funding for your early years provider

Yes. Disability access funding is a grant given each year to providers to help children with disabilities get the best support during their early education. If you get Disability Living Allowance for your child, then they are eligible for this funding.

If you think your child may be eligible for disability access funding speak to your childcare provider or local council.