What Is 15 Hours of Funded Childcare?

In England, the government provides two early education schemes that offer 15 hours of funded childcare annually, spread over 38 weeks, for eligible children:

• 15 hours of funded childcare for eligible 2-year-olds
• 15 hours of funded childcare for all 3- and 4-year-olds

This scheme allows your child to benefit from a government-approved childcare placement with a registered provider—someone who is Ofsted-registered and participates in the scheme.

Latest Updates

From September 2025, all eligible children aged from 9 months up to school age will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare each week. For more details, visit the government website Best Start in Life (opens in new tab).

Funded 15 Hours of Childcare for 3 and 4-Year-Olds

In England, all children aged three and four qualify for 15 hours of government-funded childcare each week, spread over 38 weeks. This amounts to a total of 570 hours annually.

You can begin using these funded hours at the start of the next term following your child's third birthday:

• 1 January
• 1 April
• 1 September

Please note: While the government funding covers the childcare hours, additional expenses such as meals, nappies, and wipes are not included. For full details, please refer to our nursery fee sheet.

What is 30 Hours Funded Childcare?

At Early Start Education, we are delighted to offer 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible families, making quality early education more accessible than ever.

Starting from September 2025, all eligible children from 9 months old in England will be entitled to 30 hours of government-funded early education each week, spread over 38 weeks—equating to a total of 1,140 hours annually! For our current families, these additional funded hours provide an excellent opportunity to extend your child's attendance. Please speak with your nursery team to discuss your options.

Interested in how the 30 Hours Scheme can benefit your family? Book a tour of your local nursery to learn more, or visit the government’s Best Start In Life website to check your eligibility and apply with ease.

Timing for Applying for Your Childcare Funding Code

You can submit your application for the funding code starting from the term prior to your child's 9-month milestone, even if they aren't beginning nursery immediately.

If your child is already over 9 months old, you can apply at any point—your funding will then commence at the beginning of the next term after you receive your code.

To ensure your child's funding begins smoothly on their start date, we suggest applying at least one term before their planned nursery start.