What is the 30 hours free childcare entitlement?

The 30 hours free childcare entitlement is a government scheme in England that provides up to 30 funded hours per week of early education and childcare for 3 and 4 year olds whose parents meet a working eligibility test.

To qualify, both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) must each earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Living Wage, and neither can earn more than £100,000 per year. Self-employed parents can also qualify based on their expected income.

The entitlement covers 38 weeks per year, aligned with school term times. Some providers offer a stretched option across more weeks at fewer hours per week — for example, 22 hours per week across 52 weeks instead of 30 hours for 38 weeks.

The funded hours are paid for by local authorities using the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF). The hourly rate varies by local authority and age band. Providers are legally permitted to charge parents for consumables such as meals, nappies and sun cream, but cannot charge top-up fees on funded hours for most settings.

If your child is not yet 3, the universal 15 hours entitlement may apply from the term after their second birthday, and the working parent entitlement may apply from 9 months old under the 2024 expansion.