If you live and work in England you may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare support from the term after your child turns 9 months old, until they start school. 

You can usually get funded childcare for working parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• in work or starting a new job
• on sick leave or annual leave
• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
• getting statutory neonatal care pay
• on bereaved partner paternity leave

The amount of funded childcare you can get depends on:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• your immigration status

If you are not eligible for the working parent offer you will still receive the 15 hour entitlement for all 3 and 4 year olds from the term after your child turns 3 until they start school, irrespective of your income level, benefit status, or family circumstances.

All 3 and 4-year-olds who live in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks a year, irrespective of income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances.

If your child is aged 3 or 4 and you are receiving this 15 hours childcare, and receiving some additional forms of support, you may also be eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). EYPP is paid to childcare providers and gives them additional funding to support learning and development for children.

Your 2-year-old can get 15 hours funded early learning 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

For working families claiming Universal Credit with children under 17. Claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs. Upfront childcare costs may be available to eligible parents moving in to work or increasing hours.