Childcare for working parents

How to check if your child may get up to 30 hours funded early education a week for 38 weeks and how to apply.

How 3 and 4 year olds can receive up to 30 hours a week funded childcare

All 3 and 4 year olds get 15 hours funded early education a week for 38 weeks a year.

Working families may get another 15 hours childcare a week. That's up to a total of 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

Apply through the government's Childcare Choices website.
If successful you will get a code (an 11 digit number).
To book a place take the code to your childcare provider with your child's birth certificate and proof of address.

**Guide to how it works**
A child turns 3 and the working parent/carer gets a code between these dates:	Up to 30 hours childcare starts from:
1 January to 31 March	1 April
1 April to 31 August	1 September
1 September to 31 December	1 January

If you have problems applying or cannot access the internet, phone the government’s helpline on 0300 123 4097.

Tax-Free Childcare is another government scheme to help working families with their childcare costs.

There is a guide about help with the cost of childcare (PDF, 1.5MB) by the Family and Childcare Trust.

Useful information about help paying for childcare from Money Saving Expert.