Free childcare hours: who gets what

If you are a working parent in England, government-funded childcare can significantly reduce your costs. From September 2025, eligible working parents can access up to 30 hours of free childcare per week for their children from nine months old until they start school. Understanding who qualifies and how to maintain your eligibility is crucial, especially if you're new to the UK system.

What you can get: hours and flexibility

Eligible working parents in England can access 30 hours per week of funded childcare for 38 weeks per year (typically during school terms). This totals 1,140 hours across the year. You can use these hours concentrated into school term-time only, or you can ask your childcare provider to 'stretch' them across more weeks if they are willing. For example, instead of 30 hours per week for 38 weeks, you could use approximately 22 hours per week across 50 weeks of the year. The funding covers childcare only—meals, nappies, trips and other extras are not included and providers may charge separately for these.

The hours are only available through childcare providers registered with Ofsted or registered childminder agencies. You must apply for an entitlement code to use the hours; they are not automatic.

Income and employment requirements

To qualify for the 30 hours working parent entitlement, you must meet an income threshold. As of April 2025, each parent (or the sole parent in a lone-parent family) must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, which is approximately £10,158 per year. Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 per year in adjusted net income. These rules apply to both parents in a couple—both must meet the income threshold.

Importantly, eligibility is based on income, not on hours worked. If you work fewer than 16 hours per week but earn more than the equivalent of 16 hours at minimum wage in that time, you still qualify. Self-employed parents and those on zero-hour contracts can qualify if they meet the average earnings threshold. You may also be eligible if you are usually working but are temporarily away on statutory sick pay, parental leave, maternity leave, paternity leave or adoption leave.

Age eligibility

You can apply for the 30 hours entitlement once your child reaches nine months old. The funded hours are available from the term after your child turns nine months, and you can continue to use them until your child starts school. Terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September, so timing of your application affects when your hours become active.

Immigration status and 'no recourse to public funds'

Immigration status requirements apply to the 30 hours working parent entitlement. You and your partner (if you have one) must have a National Insurance number. The person applying must have at least one of the following: British or Irish citizenship, settled or pre-settled status, or permission to access public funds. You can check your immigration status on your UK residence card, Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or e-Visa.

If you have a 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) condition on your visa, the situation is more nuanced. Funded childcare for working parents is not legally classified as a public fund, so accessing it does not breach immigration conditions. However, eligibility rules still apply. If you are in a couple where one partner has NRPF and the other has permission to access public funds, your partner with permission can apply and include you in the application—you both must still meet the employment and income requirements. If you are a single parent with NRPF, or both parents in a household have NRPF, you will not qualify for the 30 hours working parent entitlement.

How to apply

You apply for a childcare entitlement code through the government's childcare service online. First, set up a Government Gateway account if you don't already have one. Then use your account to apply through the childcare service portal. You will need to provide information about your employment, income and your partner's details if you have one. You'll also need your National Insurance number. If you don't have internet access, you can call the HMRC Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097 to apply over the phone.

Once you apply, you may find out straight away if you are eligible, or HMRC may need up to seven days to do additional checks. If approved, you receive an 11-digit eligibility code. Bring this code to your chosen childcare provider, along with your National Insurance number and your child's date of birth, so the provider can validate it. Only after validation can your child access the funded hours. Funding begins from the term after you apply and are approved.

Reconfirming your eligibility every three months

Unlike the universal 15 hours for all three- and four-year-olds, the 30 hours working parent entitlement requires regular reconfirmation. You must log into your Government Gateway account every three months to reconfirm that your employment and income details remain accurate and that you still meet the eligibility criteria. HMRC will send you email and text reminders four weeks before your reconfirmation deadline and again two weeks before. Make a note of your deadline dates in case you don't receive reminders.

The reconfirmation process is usually quick—just confirming that nothing has changed. If your circumstances remain the same, you simply tick a box and your code extends for another three months. If your circumstances have changed (for example, your income or hours have altered), you must update your details. If you change circumstances and become ineligible, there is a grace period until the start of the next funded term to allow you to seek employment. If circumstances change again during the grace period, you can reapply.

If you miss the reconfirmation deadline, your eligibility code will stop and you will no longer be able to use the funded hours. Your childcare provider may also charge you full fees. It is your responsibility to reconfirm on time—do not rely only on reminders from HMRC.

• Log in to your childcare account on GOV.UK using your Government Gateway ID.
• Check the 'secure messages' section for your reconfirmation deadline.
• Reconfirm your details up to four weeks before the deadline.
• Update any changes to employment, income or personal details.
• Your code will be extended for another three months once reconfirmed.

What happens if you become ineligible

If you or your partner stop meeting the eligibility criteria—for example, because one of you leaves work or your income exceeds £100,000—you will cease to be eligible for the 30 hours entitlement. If this happens during a reconfirmation period, there is a grace period that allows your child to remain in their childcare place until the start of the next funding term. This grace period gives you time to find alternative childcare or to increase work hours if possible. You cannot claim the 30 hours again until you have re-met all eligibility criteria and applied anew.

Combining with other childcare support

The 30 hours working parent entitlement is separate from the universal 15 hours that all three- and four-year-olds receive regardless of parental employment or income. If your child is aged three or four, you can access both the universal 15 hours and the working parent 15 hours to total 30 hours per week. If your child moves from the two-year-old working parent entitlement to the three-year-old entitlement, your code will continue to work automatically, and your hours will increase to the full 30 hours. You do not need to reapply; simply keep reconfirming as normal.

You may also combine government-funded childcare with Tax-Free Childcare, a separate scheme where the government tops up your childcare savings account. Eligibility and rules are different for Tax-Free Childcare, so check the full criteria separately.

Practical tips for new parents and expats

• Ensure you have a National Insurance number before applying. If you don't, contact HMRC or visit a local tax office.
• Check your visa or residence card to confirm whether it allows access to public funds or carries an NRPF condition.
• Use the childcare calculator on the official Childcare Choices website to check eligibility before applying.
• Contact your preferred childcare provider early to ask about availability, flexibility with 'stretched' hours, and any additional costs.
• Keep your contact details up to date in your Government Gateway account to ensure you receive reconfirmation reminders.
• Set a calendar reminder for your reconfirmation deadline—do not rely only on HMRC reminders.
• Save your eligibility code in a safe place and bring it to your provider as soon as you receive it.
• Ask your provider to validate your code as soon as possible so you know you can definitely access the hours.

Key dates and deadlines

Childcare entitlements change by term. Funding terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September. You can take up your funded hours from the term after you apply and are approved. If you want your child to start in a particular term, apply by the deadline for that term. Check with your local council or the Childcare Choices website for exact deadlines. Your reconfirmation deadlines will be shown in your Government Gateway account.