How to apply for 30 hours free childcare in England

What is the 30 hours free childcare scheme?

The 30 hours free childcare scheme in England offers working parents 30 hours of free childcare and early education per week for 38 weeks a year (term-time). This means they get 1,140 hours of free childcare annually. This reduces the amount of money they spend on nursery meaning average nursery costs are now less in England than Scotland and Wales.

Paying for childcare in the UK is expensive, so the government funded 30 hours free childcare scheme in England is a lifeline for thousands of working families.

Is everyone entitled to 30 hours free childcare?

From September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged from nine months up to school age in England are able to access 30 hours free childcare.

Eligibility for this matches the existing three to four year old 30 hours offer.

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate free childcare schemes to help parents and guardians with childcare costs.

Am I eligible for 30 hours free childcare?

You can get 30 hours free childcare if:

• Your child is aged from nine months up to four-years-old
• You live in England.
• You, and your partner if you have one, are in paid work.
• You, and your partner if you have one, earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage or Living Wage.
• You, and your partner if you have one, each earn less than £100,000 annually.
• You have a National Insurance Number.

Additional eligibility considerations

You may still qualify if:

• You or your partner are on maternity/paternity/adoption leave.
• One of you is unable to work due to disability or caring responsibilities.
• You plan to return to work within 31 days of your application.

You can use this scheme alongside Universal Credit, Tax-Free Childcare, and childcare vouchers.

What counts as approved childcare?

To claim 30 free hours, you must use an approved childcare provider registered with Ofsted.

Eligible settings:

• Nurseries, nursery schools, pre-schools, or children’s centres
• Registered childminders or nannies
• School-based childcare
• After-school clubs and play schemes

Important: Not all providers participate in the scheme. Always check before applying

Extra costs

Even if your provider accepts 30 free hours, additional costs may apply, such as for:

• Meals
• Nappies
• Outings

Make sure to check if there are any extra costs involved. These are also known as top up fees.

Are free childcare hours flexible?

Yes many providers offer flexible options:

• Use fewer hours per week stretched across the whole year (52 weeks).
• For example: 22 hours a week for 52 weeks instead of 30 hours a week for 38 weeks.

You can also:

• Use multiple childcare providers.
• Choose term-time only or year-round arrangements.

Flexibility depends on your provider.

When does 30 hours free childcare stop?

As long as you (and your partner if you have one) remain eligible, your child will continue to receive 30 hours free childcare.

Until they:

• Reach compulsory school age, or
• Start reception class

When can I apply for 30 hours free childcare?

In England, under the new expansion of the scheme, you can now apply for 30 hours free childcare from when your child is 23 weeks old.

When your child was born and what term you can get the free hours from will determine when you should apply to receive your code in time.

When your child turns 9 months old	When you can get your hours from	Deadline for applying
Between 1 September and 31 December	1 January	31 December
Between 1 January and 31 March	1 April	31 March
Between 1 April and 31 August	1 September	31 August

You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.

Please check with your childcare provider for the exact dates.

How do I apply for 30 hours free childcare?

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Visit the official GOV.UK Childcare Service.
2. Set up a childcare account.
3. Provide:
   • National Insurance number
   • Unique Taxpayer Reference (if self-employed)
   • P60, passport, or payslip
   • Mobile phone or landline access
4. Submit your application.
5. If eligible:
   • You’ll receive a childcare code.
   • Give the code to your childcare provider.
   • Reconfirm eligibility every 3 months or the code will expire.

✅ If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts, reconfirm your code to keep it valid.

If you are already getting 15 hours of childcare for working families, you will not need to apply for a new code.

Your existing code will automatically update to 30 hours. But you will have to reconfirm your details on your GOV.UK account every three months as normal.

You will also need to speak to your childcare provider to check they have hours available for your child.

What are the income threshold rules?

You’re not eligible if either parent earns £100,000 or more annually.

• The good news is that couples can each earn up to £99,000 and still qualify.
• If you’re over the income limit, you can still get the universal 15 hours of free childcare for 3- and 4-year-olds.

Benefits

The 30 hours free childcare scheme is a huge support for working families in England.

✅ To ensure you take advantage of the 30 hours free childcare scheme, make sure you apply on time, check your eligibility, and verify your childcare provider is approved.