Eligibility
If eligible, 9-month-olds can get up to 15 hours of funded childcare, starting in September 2024. Families with a 9-month-old child can receive funding to support up to 570 hours of childcare each year from the start of the term after they turn 9 months – see section below on Term Times.
Parents can visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to check their eligibility and for details on how to apply.
If eligible, 2-year-olds can get up to 15 hours of funded childcare. This support covers up to 570 hours per year starting from the school term after the child’s second birthday – see section below on Term Times. To qualify for the 15 hours of free childcare, the parents must meet the specific eligibility criteria.
There are two sets of criteria for the two-year funding.
Parents of 2-year-old children who are working may be eligible for funding. To check eligibility and find out how to apply, visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
If parents receive any of the following benefits, they can claim eligibility through their local authority. This is not claimed through childcare services, it must be claimed through the local authority directly where the nursery is based.
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you move from one provider to another within the same local authority, you do not need to apply for a new eligibility code. However, if you move to a nursery in a different local authority, this cannot be transferred and you must obtain a new eligibility code. (This is only applicable for 2-year-old funding).
Universal funding for 3 and 4-year-olds: starts from the school term following their third birthday, all 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of “universal” funded childcare – see the section below on Term Times. This provides support for up to 570 hours of childcare annually.
Parents do not need to apply for this funding (by obtaining an eligibility code); however, they must complete a parent declaration form and send it to the nursery provider.
Please note: If your child attends Fennies please send all eligibility codes and parent declaration forms to funding@fennies.com!
Enhanced Support for Working Families with 3 and 4-Year-Olds: Starting from the school term after their third birthday, eligible 3 and 4-year-olds can access 30 hours of “extended” funded childcare – see the section below on Term Times. This provides up to 1140 hours of support annually.
Parents can visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to check their eligibility and for details on how to apply. An eligibility code and parent declaration form must be submitted for 3 and 4 year old extended funding.