How to Apply for Nursery Funded Hours in England | 2026 Guide

Learn how to apply for government-funded childcare hours in England — now 30 hours a week from 9 months old — with a step-by-step guide, eligibility criteria, and links to local authority support.

How to Apply for Nursery Funded Hours in England

Learn how to apply for government-funded childcare hours in England — now available 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?

There are three separate entitlements in England, and many families qualify for more than one.

1. Free Childcare for Working Parents – 30 Hours, 9 Months to School Age

This is the main scheme for working families, and it has been fully rolled out since September 2025.¹

• 30 hours per week for 38 weeks a year (term time), for children from 9 months old up to school age.²

• Your child starts the term after they turn 9 months — terms begin on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September.³

• You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old.³

To qualify, you (and your partner, if you have one) usually both need to be in work or starting a new job. You also count if you're:⁴

• on sick leave or annual leave

• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

• getting Statutory Neonatal Care Pay

• on Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave

If one of you isn't working, you can still qualify. As long as your partner is working, you're eligible if you're on carer's leave, or if you get any of the following:⁴

• Incapacity Benefit

• Severe Disablement Allowance

• Carer's Allowance

• the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit

• the carer's element of Universal Credit

• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

• National Insurance credits

Each of you who is working must expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage over the 3 months after you apply:⁴

• £2,643.68 if you're aged 21 or over

• £2,256.80 if you're aged 18 to 20

• £1,664 if you're under 18 or an apprentice

If you have more than one job, your earnings are added together. If you're self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago, you can earn less than this and still qualify.⁴

Neither of you can have an adjusted net income over £100,000 for the current tax year.⁴

2. All 3- and 4-Year-Olds – 15 Hours (Universal)

Every child in England is entitled to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks — 570 free hours a year — from the term after their third birthday. This is universal: it doesn't depend on your income or whether you work.⁵

If you also meet the working-parent rules above, this is topped up to 30 hours. The entitlement stops when your child starts in reception class, or when they reach compulsory school age if that's later.⁵

The hours themselves are free, but you may still be charged for extras such as meals, nappies, additional hours and activities like trips — ask your provider what you'll have to pay for.⁵

3. Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds – 15 Hours (Extra Support)

Your 2-year-old may get 15 hours a week for 38 weeks without you needing to work, if:⁶

• You get Universal Credit and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments

• You get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• You get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• Your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan or receives Disability Living Allowance

• Your child is in care (looked after by your local authority)

• Your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or child arrangements order

If you're eligible for this and you work, you may be able to add another 15 hours through Free Childcare for Working Parents — 30 hours in total. Where you qualify for both, government guidance is to apply for Early Learning for 2-year-olds first.⁶

Use the Best Start in Life childcare checker to see which entitlements apply to you.⁷

How to Apply for Nursery Funded Hours in Your Council Area

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

• Go to the Best Start in Life childcare checker, or apply directly on GOV.UK.

• You'll need a National Insurance number and a childcare account. If you qualify for the working-parent scheme, you'll get an 11-digit eligibility code.⁸

• For Early Learning for 2-year-olds, there's no code — contact your childcare provider or your local council instead.⁹

Step 2: Find a Participating Nursery

• Use Nuuri to search for nurseries near you. Funded hours can only be delivered by an approved provider — for nurseries and childminders, that means being on Ofsted's Early Years Register (or registered with an early years childminder agency).¹⁰

• Once you've shortlisted a setting, enquire with the nursery to check they offer funded places for your child's age group — not every nursery takes under-2s.

Step 3: Submit the Code & Documents

You'll typically need:

• Your child's date of birth and address

• Your eligibility code (if applicable)

• National Insurance number and proof of identity

Submit these to your nursery or local authority, depending on your council's process.

Step 4: Apply Before the Term Deadline

Apply before the term starts — the deadline is the day before the funded term begins:³

• 31 December for a place starting in January

• 31 March for April

• 31 August for September

Step 5: Reconfirm Every 3 Months

• For Free Childcare for Working Parents (and Tax-Free Childcare), you must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months to confirm your details are up to date.¹¹

• Missing a reconfirmation can mean losing your funded place, so set a reminder.

Flexible Hours & Extra Costs

• You can stretch your hours across more weeks of the year by taking fewer hours per week — for example, around 22 hours a week over 52 weeks — if your provider offers this.²

• Nurseries may charge for meals, nappies, trips, and any hours beyond your funded entitlement.²

• Providers should offer an alternative — such as bringing your own food or nappies — rather than making these charges a condition of your free hours.²

Important Notes for Parents

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

• Don't miss reconfirmations. Missing your 3-monthly check could disrupt your childcare funding.

• Confirm local rules. Some councils vary slightly in process, so always check your local authority's website.

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

Start your nursery search today with Nuuri: www.nuuri.co.uk

Sources

The figures on this page come from official government guidance. Entitlements, earnings thresholds and income limits can change, and some parts of the process are set by your council, so always confirm the current rules on GOV.UK and with your local authority before applying.

Last updated: 11 September 2026