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What free childcare is available in Wales?
In Wales, the government offers free childcare to children under school age through three key schemes:
Foundation Phase Nursery Education
All three and four-year-olds get a guaranteed 10 hours per week as part of the Foundation Phase.
Childcare Offer for Wales
Three and four-year-olds of eligible working parents can get up to 20 funded hours on top taking it up to 30 hours per week.
Flying Start
Up to 12.5 hours/week for eligible two‑year-olds in disadvantaged areas.
Am I eligible for Foundation Phase Nursery?
All three to four-year-olds
Every child aged three to four-years-old is entitled to a minimum of 10 hours per week of funded, part‑time, Foundation Phase nursery, for 48 weeks a year. It is also referred to as ‘early education entitlement’ and ‘funded early education’.
The early years education can be used in nurseries or with childminders and parents can choose who they use it with.
The childcare offer is available whether parents want to access English, Welsh or bilingual childcare.
Children in Wales can start Foundation Phase Nursery from the term following their third birthday.
The Foundation Phase is part of the curriculum. It allows children to learn through play, develop positive attitudes to learning and support them to get ready for school.
Am I eligible for the Childcare Offer for Wales?
Eligible three to four-year-olds
Eligible three and four-year-olds of working parents in Wales can get an additional 20 hours of free childcare per week on top of the 10 hours of early education offered as part of the Foundation Phase..
This means that you could get up to 30 hours per week of free childcare and early education for 48 weeks per year. You can use some of the hours during the school holidays.
You can choose your own provider to ensure your child’s needs are met, and you do not have to use all of the 30 hours if you do not want to.
Parents and guardians must live in Wales and be working to be able to take full advantage of the childcare offer in Wales.
Your child must be aged three or four years old and you must fulfil the following requirements:
Parents
- Both partners must be working. They must earn at least the national minimum wage for 16 hours per week on average,
- Or one partner is working and earns at least the minimum national wage for 16 hour per week on average and the other is claiming Carer’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance.
- Or one or both partners is on temporary maternity/paternity/adoption leave or receive Statutory Sick Pay. But would fulfil the income requirements if working.
- Neither of you can earn more than £100,000 per year each to be eligible.
Single parents
- You must be working
- You must earn at least the national minimum wage for 16 hours per week on average
- You must earn less than £100,000 a year
- Single parents who are self-employed or on zero hours contracts must prove their status and provide relevant documents
These rules do not apply if you are off work and receive Statutory Sick Pay or on maternity/paternity leave. Additionally, foster carers and kinship carers may be eligible despite not meeting the above requirements.
Newly self-employed parents can access the childcare offer even if they do not meet the eligibility criteria.
Am I eligible for the Flying Start Scheme?
Eligible two to three-year-olds
This scheme is for two to three-year-olds living in certain low-income areas in Wales. It gives eligible children 2.5 hours of free childcare per day totalling 12.5 hours a week during term time.
The Welsh government says local authority Flying Start teams have some flexibility in how the five 2.5 hour sessions are used. But only if it is considered to be in the child’s best interests. This may include if a parent/carer needs a different arrangement due to attending a training course or work.
Being eligible for the Flying Start scheme enables them to access:
- An enhanced health visiting service
- Access to parenting support
- Support for Speech, Language and Communication development.
Expansion of Flying Start
The Welsh government plans to extend the Flying Start Scheme so it covers all two-year-olds in Wales.
In September 2025, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council became the first local authority to provide Flying Start childcare for all two-year-olds in their area.
Purnima Tanuku, Executive Chair of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru called the expansion “great news for families in Merthyr Tydfil where all two-year-olds will be able to access Flying Start.
“We know that Merthyr Tydfil is the first council to reach this milestone. But it will be followed by others over the coming months and years.
“For this to happen, the funding for Flying Start must meet all providers’ costs and enable them to deliver high quality childcare. We know that nurseries have struggled with funding rates and restrictions around charges so must be able to deliver Flying Start and remain sustainable.”
The Welsh government is investing £25 million of additional funding to expand the Flying Start scheme to more two-year-olds in Wales.
How to apply
To apply and claim the funded hours, get in touch with your local Family Information Service. They will help you find a suitable childcare setting for your child.
If you are not eligible, you may be able to receive other childcare support.
Visit our nursery fees advice section for more information on how to get help with the cost of nursery.
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