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15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

From the term following their third birthday, all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to receive 15 hours funded childcare a week for 38 weeks (570 hours a year). This funded childcare can be taken in a school nursery, in a private, voluntary or independent setting, in a family hub, or with a childminder who's registered with Ofsted and us to receive funding. Find out about choosing a childcare provider.

You might also be able to take fewer hours over more weeks if your childcare provider offers this option.

Who can apply

All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for 15 hours free childcare, irrespective of your income, benefit status or family circumstances. The funded childcare starts from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child's third birthday.

Date child turns 3 years old	When the child is eligible for funded childcare
1 January to 31 March	Term starting on or after 1 April
1 April to 31 August	Term starting on or after 1 September
1 September to 31 December	Term starting on or after 1 January

 

How to apply

To apply for the 15 hours funded childcare, speak to your chosen childcare provider. They'll ask you to complete a parent declaration form before your child starts to attend for their free hours. They’ll also need to see your child’s birth certificate to make sure they’re the right age to receive the funded childcare.

Your childcare provider will claim for the funding on your behalf.

What happens next

Your childcare provider will tell you if they can offer your child a funded place. There's no maximum number of childcare providers you can use your funded hours at, but there's a limit of two providers per day.

Your child can attend up to a maximum of 10 hours a day between 6am and 8pm, with no minimum session length. You could use your funded hours in different ways, such as:

• three hours a day for five days a week
• five hours a day for three days a week
• 15 hours over two days a week
• stretching your entitlement over more than 38 weeks per year (if your provider offers this), by using fewer than 15 hours per week

How we pay for your funded childcare

We’ll pay the funding for your 15 hours free childcare directly to your childcare provider. If your child attends for more than 15 hours a week, the provider will charge you for the extra hours (unless you're eligible for 30 hours free childcare for working families).

If you change childcare provider

If you wish to move childcare provider, you’ll need to check with your new provider if they have a funded place available for your child for the rest of the term.

We pay funding to your childcare provider for a full term based on a headcount day each term. If you change provider, we can adjust the funding for the old provider and pay the new provider up until the last three weeks of term. After this time it's not possible to adjust the funding.

You should check any notice periods required by your current childcare provider before your child leaves, as if you don't give the appropriate notice and the funding has been changed to your new provider, you may receive a bill from them.