Changing Nurseries: How do I transfer funded childcare?

When you change nurseries, you might wonder whether your child’s funded hours will transfer with them or whether you’ll end up paying more than you planned.

Whether you can transfer nursery funding mid-term or between terms depends on where you live, your child’s eligibility, the funding scheme, and when you plan to move. If you are asking yourself, “Can I change nursery during the school year?”, no matter the reason, planning can help you avoid extra fees or funding gaps.

This guide explains how to transfer funded childcare to another nursery, what to check before leaving your current provider, and tips for choosing a new setting.

Can I transfer my funded childcare hours to another nursery?

In most cases, you can change nurseries and still receive funded childcare, provided your child remains eligible. Keep in mind, though, that funded hours do not transfer automatically.

Your child’s eligibility for funding is separate from the new nursery’s ability to claim it. The new provider must offer the relevant scheme, have an available place, and arrange the funding claim on your behalf.

The process depends on where you live, your childcare scheme and when you plan to move.

What should I check before changing nurseries?

What to check	What you need to know
Your child’s eligibility	Check whether your entitlement continues and whether you need to renew or reconfirm eligibility.
The new nursery’s approval	Ask whether it offers your particular funded childcare scheme, not just whether it accepts government funding.
The funding arrangements	Confirm how the change will be recorded and whether the local authority needs to update its records.
Sharing hours between providers	Some schemes allow funded hours to be split between approved settings, subject to the relevant rules and limits.

For official guidance, check the relevant source for your location:

• England: GOV.UK funded childcare guidance
• Scotland: Funded early learning and childcare
• Wales: Managing Childcare Offer agreements
• Northern Ireland: Funded pre-school education places

How do I transfer funded childcare to another nursery?

Before finalising a move, parents often ask how to transfer funded childcare to another nursery smoothly. Confirm the provider can accommodate your required hours and clarify how they will arrange funding before setting a start date.

1. Check your eligibility: Confirm your funding scheme and whether you need to reconfirm eligibility or provide a valid code.
2. Find a new nursery: Check that it offers your scheme, has a place available and can accommodate your preferred hours.
3. Check your notice period: Review your current contract for the leaving date and any fees you may still owe.
4. Speak to both nurseries: Ask whether funding has already been claimed and what is needed for changing nursery funded childcare without a break.
5. Contact your local authority: Check the rules for a nursery funding transfer, particularly when moving mid-term or between council areas.
6. Complete the paperwork: Submit any required eligibility details, parental declarations or updated information.
7. Confirm everything in writing: Ask the new nursery to confirm your start date, when funded hours begin and any additional charges.

Can I change nursery halfway through a term?

In most cases, the answer to “Can I transfer my funded childcare hours?” is yes—you can change nurseries and still receive government-funded childcare, provided your child remains eligible. Keep in mind, though, that funded hours do not transfer automatically.

Your child’s eligibility for funding is separate from the new nursery’s ability to claim it. The new provider must offer the relevant scheme, have a place available, and claim the funding on your behalf.

The process depends on where you live, your childcare scheme, and when you plan to move.

Situation	What parents should know
Your old nursery has claimed funding	Ask whether unused funded weeks can be released or adjusted. This is not guaranteed.
The funding headcount date has passed	In England, current-term funding may not transfer automatically. Check with both providers and your local authority.
You move house	Moving to another council area may involve different procedures. Contact both local authorities.
Your nursery closes unexpectedly	Contact your local authority promptly about alternative childcare and funding arrangements.
The new nursery has no immediate place	Ask about waiting lists and other funded settings with availability.
You need different childcare hours	Check whether the new nursery can meet your schedule and whether extra sessions or meals cost more.
You use the Childcare Offer for Wales	Amend your existing agreement and create a new one. Submit it before 12pm on the Monday of the first week at the new setting; the new provider must confirm it online by Thursday of that week.

A mid-term move does not automatically mean you will have to wait until the next term. However, local headcount dates and funding rules will dictate what happens to funded hours when changing nursery during an active term.

What happens if my old nursery has already claimed the funding?

If your old nursery has already claimed funding, transferring the remaining funded hours may take longer.

In England, funding is generally arranged by term, starting in September, January and April. If you move after your local authority’s headcount date, the funding may not automatically transfer to your new nursery.

Ask your current nursery whether they can release or adjust any unused funding. This is not guaranteed, so check with your new provider when funded sessions can begin.

What should I check?

Check	What to find out
Funding dates	Which period has your old nursery claimed for?
Remaining hours	Can the unused funded hours be allocated to your new nursery?
Start date	When can your new nursery begin offering funded sessions?
Additional costs	Will you need to pay for any sessions before funding starts?

Who can help with a funding transfer?

If you are unsure about the rules regarding changing nurseries funded hours, contact the relevant authority:

●        England: Your local council’s early years funding team. See the GOV.UK funding guidance.

●        Scotland: Your local council’s funded Early Learning and Childcare team. Visit mygov.scot.

●        Wales: Your local authority’s childcare team or the Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer guidance.

●        Northern Ireland: Contact the Education Authority about funded pre-school education.

How does transferring nursery funding work across the UK?

Rules for changing nursery and transferring funded childcare vary across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Here’s what parents need to know in each nation.

England

Whether you receive the 15-hour or 30-hour free childcare changing nursery entitlement, working parents can access up to 30 funded hours a week for 38 weeks (starting the term after the child turns nine months and ending at school age, subject to eligibility).

Children aged three and four receive 15 universal funded hours, while some two-year-olds qualify through additional eligibility routes. Local authorities manage funding and pay providers using termly arrangements and census headcounts.

Moving nursery: If you move after the relevant headcount or census date, current-term funding may not transfer automatically. Whether unused funded weeks can be released or adjusted depends on the circumstances and local authority arrangements. Confirm with both providers how they will handle the remaining funded period.

Working-parent entitlement also has eligibility conditions. Parents must keep their childcare account details up to date and reconfirm eligibility when required.

For couples, both parents generally need to meet the work requirements, and neither can normally have adjusted net income above £100,000. These conditions do not apply to the universal 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds.

For further information, see the Early Years Entitlements: Local Authority Funding Operational Guide for 2026–2027.

Scotland

Scotland offers up to 1,140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) each year for all three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds. These hours can be arranged in different patterns, including term-time or year-round provision, depending on local arrangements and provider availability.

Under Funding Follows the Child, families can choose a provider that meets the National Standard, has a place available and has, or is willing to enter into, an agreement with the local authority.

Moving provider: The council and both settings may need to coordinate arrangements, particularly if your child splits hours between providers or you move to another council area.

Contact your council’s early learning and childcare team to check whether you need updated agreements or other steps.

Wales

Wales has two main schemes:

Scheme	Who it supports	What it provides
Flying Start	Eligible two-year-olds in participating areas	Generally up to 12.5 hours a week of funded part-time childcare.
Childcare Offer for Wales	Eligible three- and four-year-olds	Up to 30 combined hours a week of early education and childcare, subject to eligibility.

Changing provider:

For Flying Start, the new setting must be approved to deliver the scheme. Contact your local authority or Flying Start team to check availability and the arrangements for changing settings. For the Childcare Offer for Wales, amend the end date of your existing online agreement and create a new agreement for the new setting.

NB: To claim funding from your chosen date, submit the new agreement before 12 pm on the Monday of the first week at the new setting. The new provider must confirm the agreement online by Thursday of that week.

Check your Childcare Offer account and the Welsh Government’s guidance before moving.

Northern Ireland

The Pre-School Education Programme provides a funded pre-school year through nursery schools, nursery units, and voluntary or private settings with funded places. The Education Authority manages admissions.

Changing setting: This is primarily an admissions and place-availability matter, not a transfer of a general balance of funded childcare hours. Contact the Education Authority and the proposed new setting to establish whether a funded place is available and which process applies.

Will I have to pay nursery fees when changing nurseries?

Changing nurseries can add costs, even if your child remains eligible for funded childcare. Your nursery contract and your funded entitlement are separate, so check both before agreeing on a leaving date.

What costs should I check?

Possible cost	What to check
Notice period	Whether you must keep paying the old nursery after giving notice.
Overlapping places	Whether you will pay both nurseries during the transition.
Registration and deposits	Whether upfront fees are refundable. In England, access to funded hours cannot depend on a non-refundable deposit.
Extra hours and other charges	Whether additional sessions, meals or optional extras cost extra. In England, these charges must be transparent and voluntary.
Funding gaps	Whether you must pay privately before the new nursery can claim funding. Confirm the start date with both providers.

Ask your current nursery for a breakdown of any final fees and ask your new nursery to confirm when funded hours will begin and what additional charges may apply.

Can you get money back when your child is absent? Read our guide to getting a nursery refund when your child is off sick.

What happens to tax-free childcare if I change nursery?

Your Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account usually stays open when you change nursery, so you typically don’t need to apply again.

Tax-Free Childcare is separate from funded childcare hours, so you can use it to help pay eligible childcare costs while you arrange funded hours with the new provider.

How do I pay my new nursery?

Sign in to your childcare account, search for your new nursery by name, town, or postcode, and add it to your account. The nursery must be an approved childcare provider and signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments. If it isn’t listed, contact the nursery to confirm its registration and scheme status.

For every £8 you pay into your account, the government adds £2, up to £500 every three months per child, or £1,000 for a disabled child. You can use the available balance to pay your new provider for qualifying childcare costs.

What if my old nursery refunds money?

If your previous nursery refunds a payment made through your TFC account, they must return the money to that same childcare account, not directly to your personal bank account. This is because the original payment may include government top-up money.

The nursery will need your unique 13-digit childcare account number, which begins with 1100, to process the refund correctly.

Do I need to reconfirm my eligibility?

Yes. You must sign in and confirm your details are up to date every three months to continue receiving government top-ups. Missing this deadline can stop further top-ups.

Remember that reconfirming your Tax-Free Childcare eligibility is separate from arranging your funded childcare hours at the new nursery.

How can I find a new nursery that accepts funded childcare?

Once you know how your funded childcare will transfer, the next step is finding a nursery that suits your child’s needs, your family’s routine and your budget.

1. Start with official search tools: In England, use the Best Start in Life Childcare Checker and your local council’s Family Information Service to find providers and check potential support. Elsewhere in the UK, contact your local authority about funded early learning and childcare options.
2. Check availability and funding: Contact nurseries directly and ask whether they have a place for your child, when they can start and whether they can claim funding from that date. Confirm which schemes they offer, including the relevant 15- or 30-hour entitlement, eligible two-year-old funding, or local equivalents. Ask how funded hours are arranged, such as term-time only or stretched across the year, which sessions are available, and whether hours can be split between providers. If you use Tax-Free Childcare, check that the nursery accepts payments through the scheme.
3. Compare costs and quality: You can request a written breakdown of additional hours, meals, consumables, deposits and notice-period fees. Funded childcare does not necessarily cover every cost, so compare the total monthly amount rather than the headline rate. Read parent reviews and the latest inspection report from the relevant regulator. Visiting two or three nurseries can also help you assess staff interactions, safeguarding, routines, communication and settling-in support.
4. Confirm before accepting a place: Once you’ve found a suitable nursery, check that the agreed start date and funding arrangements match your plans.

Search and compare nurseries on daynurseries.co.uk to find a setting that meets your childcare and funding needs.