Funding for 3- and 4-year-olds
There are different options for funding childcare. Find the right one for you on the Childcare Choices website.
15 hours funded childcare
Every 3- and 4-year-old in England is entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare or early education per week, for 38 weeks.
This is a total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider.
Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
How to apply
Funding is paid directly to the childcare provider. Your childcare provider will ask you to complete a form each term and they sort out the funding – you do not need to do anything else.
Our directory of support services lists providers approved by Ofsted.
Who is eligible for the 15 hour offer? SHOW
When can my child start receiving 3- and 4-year-old funding? SHOW
How many hours of early education funding can my child have? SHOW
Where can I use the funded hours? SHOW
Does my child have to take up their funded hours of education? SHOW
Will I have to pay anything towards my child's place? SHOW
Where can I get information to help me choose? SHOW
30 hours funded childcare
Working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds whose qualify for extended funding may be entitled to up to 30 hours of funded childcare, for 38 weeks of the year (or fewer hours over more weeks). This is an extra 15 hours of funded childcare on top of the 15 hours universal entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds in England.