9 months to 2 year olds - Funded Working Parent Entitlement
Working parents could be eligible for 15 hours of early education funding for their age eligible child. This can be taken as
- 15 hours of early education for 38 weeks (up to 570 hours per year),
- The maximum 570 hours 'stretched' over more weeks but for fewer hours per week.
Speak to your childcare provider for details on how they can offer funded hours.
Eligibility
Working parents (or lone parent) could be eligible if:
- Working parents who have a child aged from 9 months to 2 years - children are eligible from the term after turning 9 months old, or from the term after they apply for an age eligible child,
- Each parent expects to earn (on average) at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage).
- If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
You will not be eligible if:
- Either parent earns £100,000 a year.
When could my child be eligible from?
From the term after turning 9 months old and a parent has successfully applied and received a code, whichever is later. Funding can start:
- From 1 April - for applications made between 1 January - 31 March
- From 1 September - for applications made between 1 April - 31 August
- From 1 January - for applications made between 1 September - 31 December
How to apply?
Parents can apply via the government website Childcare Choices who will check and confirm eligibility. .
Successful applicants will be given a code by Childcare Choices which parents must present to their childcare provider.
Parents are urged to apply the term before the child could be eligible.
Parents must reconfirm eligibility with Childcare Choices every 3 months.
Fosters Carers
An eligible child in foster care could be entitled to the funding based on the following criteria:
- The local authority is satisfied that a foster parent engaging in paid work (other than fostering) is consistent with the child’s care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making, and
- That in two foster parent families, both partners hold additional paid employment outside of their role as a foster carer.
- A lone (foster) parent must have additional paid employment is also outside their role as a foster carer.
Foster carers must make their application with the aid of the social worker to the Early Education and Childcare Team, do not apply to Childcare Choices.
What happens if parents do not meet the above criteria or fall out of eligibility when accessing the working parent entitlement?
2-year-olds - could still be eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare if the family receives additional government support. See if you could be eligible on our other 2 year funding page. This is known as Think2.
9 months- 2-year-olds - who fall out of eligibility will lose their 15 hours and will incur childcare costs. Parents can review what support they could be eligible for via Childcare Choices.
Additional Support
Early Years Pupil Premium - families could receive some additional funding to support the education of their child.
Disability Access Fund - settings who have children who receive Disability Living Allowance could be eligible for some funding to make reasonable adjustments to the provision and improve access.
Your questions answered
Further Information
- Look for childcare options in your area. Funding can be taken at:
- childminders
- day nurseries
- preschools
- school based early years provision
- some after school clubs