How to Apply for Nursery Funded Hours in England

Learn how to apply for government-funded childcare hours in England — including the new expansion from 9 months old — with a step-by-step guide, eligibility criteria, and links to local authority support.

Who Is Eligible for Free Childcare in England?

1. All 3- and 4-Year-Olds

• Every child in England is entitled to 15 free hours per week (570 hours per year, term time) starting the term after they turn 3.

• Many families also qualify for an extra 15 hours (total 30 hours) under the working-parent scheme.

2. Working Families – 30 Hours Funding (now extended)

From September 2025, the 30-hour offer is extended to younger ages:

• From 9 months up to school age: If you meet the working-parent eligibility rules, your child can now receive 30 free childcare hours per week (term time, or pro rata when stretched) starting the term after they reach 9 months.

• The same income and work conditions apply (e.g. minimum work hours, earnings under £100,000 per parent).

Previously, in April and September 2024, the rollout introduced:

• 15 hours for 2-year-olds in eligible families

• 15 hours for children from 9 months from September 2024
  This new 30-hour extension completes the scheme’s rollout.

3. Some 2-Year-Olds (Non-Working Parents)

You may still qualify for 15 free hours for a 2-year-old if you meet certain criteria, such as:

• Income-related benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, etc.)

• Your child has an EHC plan or receives Disability Living Allowance

• Your child is in care, adopted, or under special guardianship

Use the Government Best Start In Life Eligibility Checker to confirm your entitlement.

New Funded Hours from 9 Months (Sept 2025)

• Eligible children from 9 months old can access 15 hours initially, moving to 30 hours per week under full eligibility once the expansion is fully phased.

• The offer begins the term after your child turns 9 months old.

• Working and income eligibility criteria mirror those for 30 hours for older children.

How to Apply for Nursery Funded Hours in Your Council Area

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

• Go to Best Start In Life Eligibility Checker.

• If you qualify for 30 hours, you’ll receive an eligibility code.

  Step 2: Find a Participating Nursery

• Use Nuuri to search for nurseries near you. Only Ofsted-registered, approved providers can deliver funded hours.

• Confirm with the provider that they accept the new scheme for 9-month-old children.

Step 3: Submit the Code & Documents

You’ll typically need:

• Your child’s date of birth and address

• The 30-hour eligibility code (if applicable)

• National Insurance number and proof of identity

• Proof of income / work status

Submit these to your local authority or directly to the nursery, depending on your council’s process.

Step 4: Renew Every 3 Months

• For 30-hour funding, you must reconfirm eligibility every 3 months via the Best Start In Life government website.

• Failure to renew in time may cause you to lose your funded place.

Flexible Hours & Extra Costs

• You can stretch your hours over the year (for example, using fewer hours per week across more weeks).

• Nurseries may charge extra for meals, nappies, trips or wraparound care (outside the funded hours).

• Providers differ in how they allow flexibility - check with your nursery.

Important Notes for Parents

• Apply early. Funding windows close before term starts, so check deadlines.

• Don’t miss renewals. Missing your eligibility reconfirmation could disrupt your childcare funding.

• Confirm local rules. Some councils may have slight variations in process, so always check your local authority’s website.

How to Apply for Nursery Funded Hours in Your Council Area

We’ve listed links to each council website below so you can find specific application guidance:

Barking and Dagenham | Barnet | Barnsley | Bath and North East Somerset | Bedford | Bexley | Birmingham | Blackburn with Darwen | Blackpool | Bolton | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council | Bracknell Forest Council | Bradford Council | Brent Council | Brighton & Hove City Council | Bristol City Council | Buckinghamshire Council | Calderdale Council | Cambridgeshire County Council | Camden Council | Central Bedfordshire Council | Cheshire East Council | Cheshire West and Chester Council | Cornwall Council | County Durham Council | Coventry City Council | Croydon Council | Cumberland Council | Darlington Borough Council | Derby City Council | Derbyshire County Council | Devon County Council | Doncaster Council | Dorset Council | Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | East Riding of Yorkshire Council | East Sussex County Council | Essex County Council | Gateshead Council | Gloucestershire County Council | Hackney Council | Halton Borough Council | Hammersmith and Fulham Council | Hampshire County Council | Haringey Council | Harrow Council | Hartlepool Borough Council | Havering | Herefordshire | Hillingdon | Hounslow | Isle of Wight | Islington | Kensington and Chelsea | Kent | Kingston upon Thames | Kirklees | Knowsley | Lambeth | Lancashire | Leeds | Leicester | Leicestershire | Lewisham | Lincolnshire | Liverpool | London Borough of Bromley | London Borough of Enfield | Luton | Manchester | Medway | Merton | Middlesbrough | Milton Keynes | Newcastle upon Tyne | Newham | Norfolk | North East Lincolnshire | North Lincolnshire | North Northamptonshire | North Somerset | North Tyneside | North Yorkshire | Northumberland | Nottingham | Nottinghamshire | Oldham | Oxfordshire | Peterborough | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Reading | Redbridge | Redcar and Cleveland | Richmond upon Thames | Rochdale | Rotherham | Royal Borough of Greenwich | Rutland | Salford | Sandwell | Sefton | Sheffield | Shropshire | Slough | Solihull | Somerset | South Gloucestershire | South Tyneside | Southampton | Southend-on-Sea | Southwark | St Helens | Staffordshire | Stockport | Stockton-on-Tees | Stoke-on-Trent | Suffolk | Sunderland | Surrey | Sutton | Swindon | Tameside | Telford and Wrekin | Thurrock | Torbay | Tower Hamlets | Trafford | Wakefield | Walsall | Waltham Forest | Wandsworth | Warrington | Warwickshire | West Berkshire | West Northamptonshire | West Sussex | Westminster | Wigan | Wiltshire | Windsor and Maidenhead | Wirral | Wokingham | Wolverhampton | Worcestershire | York

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For all your need-to-know nursery advice, visit our Nuuri Advice Hub.

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