Free childcare
What is free childcare?
Families may receive up to 15 or 30 hours of their child’s care free for up to 38 weeks a year. Whether you get 15 or 30 depends on the child’s age and your situation. It equates to 570 or 1,140 hours over 38 weeks. You have the option to 'stretch' the offer across more weeks of the year by taking fewer hours per week.
To find out what you can get right away, use Best start in Life. This is the government eligibility checker.
Best start in Life eligibility checker
You can also apply for tax-free childcare to help with your costs.
Childcare for all families
All families can get 15 hours of free childcare each week when their child is aged 3 or 4. This continues until they start school.
To find a provider, visit ESCIS – Find a childcare provider
ESCIS is East Sussex County Council’s database for community listings.
To apply for a place, speak to your chosen childcare provider.
Childcare for working families
Working parents could get an additional 15 hours of free childcare each week when their children are 3 or 4 years old. That means you could get up to 30 hours a week. There are some rules for this:
- Each adult in your home must work at least 16 hours a week and get paid at least the minimum wage.
- No one in your home can earn more than £100,000 a year.
- If you’re a single-parent family, you must follow the same rules.
Childcare for Early Learning for 2-Year-olds
The government provides free childcare to families who need extra support or have limited income. You might get this if:
- You or your parent gets benefits or other help from the government.
- You or your parent has a disability, or you are disabled.
- You moved to the UK from another country and cannot get benefits.
Childcare for foster carers
If your foster child is two years old, they already get 15 hours a week of free childcare for Early Learning for 2-year-olds.
After that, all 3 to 4-year-olds get 15 hours a week of free childcare. Foster carers can boost this to 30 hours a week if they have extra paid work or have a fostering commitment. For example:
- You’re a sole foster carer and have a paid job
- You’re a couple; both work and foster
You can also get free childcare for younger children from September 2025. You apply through us for this.
Apply for free 2-year-old childcare
When can you start receiving free childcare?
The government is providing more childcare for working families.
0 to 8 months old:
No free childcare available
9 to 23 months old:
- 30 hours a week for working families
2 years old:
- 30 hours a week for working families
3 to 4-year-olds:
- 15 hours a week for all children resident in England
- 30 hours a week for working families
When to apply for free childcare
Your child can’t start on their birthday. There are three start times each year:
- Autumn Term: September to December
- Spring Term: January to March
- Summer Term: April to August
How it works:
- Apply and get approved first.
- Your child starts in the next term after their birthday.
- Example: If your child turns 3 in September, you apply in autumn and they start in January (spring term).
Tip: Apply at least one month before the term starts. This allows time for processing the application ready for the new term.
What if you need extra hours?
If you need more hours at nursery or with your childminder, ask them to give you non-funded hours. You will need to pay their regular price for these extra hours.
How to get free childcare in the school holidays
Many childcare providers, like nurseries and childminders, are open all year. If yours is, they may offer the option to stretch your free childcare hours across more than 38 weeks. The overall number of hours does not change. A stretched offer covers more weeks by providing fewer hours per week.
Will you have to pay anything for your free childcare?
No. The hours must be free. Your provider may charge for consumables. These can include snacks, wipes, and nappies for specialist activities such as forest school. These charges must be voluntary.
If you choose not to pay any additional charges, your provider must offer you an alternative. You may be asked to provide your own snacks, wipes, and nappies.
School-aged children
Some schools start in September. If your child’s start date for a Reception class is later than the set term dates, you can’t claim any early years funding.
If the staggered start causes a childcare problem, you will need to discuss this with the school. Free hours are available to families who have delayed their child’s school place. This is available until the child reaches statutory school age (5 years old).
Children who access a free place in a school nursery do not get guaranteed admission to the school. You must apply for a place at the school if you want your child to transfer to the reception class.
Apply for free childcare
The application process and the organisation you apply to will vary depending on your child's age and your circumstances.
The universal offer: 15 hours a week for 3 to 4-year-olds
If your child is 3 or 4 years old, you can get 15 hours of free childcare each week. You don’t need to apply for this yourself. Here’s what to do:
- find a childcare provider that is registered with Ofsted
- show them your child’s birth certificate or passport
- the childcare provider will apply on your behalf. The Council will pay them for your free hours
Expanded hours for working families
If you work and need more free childcare, you might get:
- 30 hours a week for children aged 9 months or older
- 30 hours a week if your child is 3 or 4
Here’s what to do:
- go to Best Start in Life to check if you are eligible
- apply with HMRC and get an 11-digit code
Every three months, you must confirm that your circumstances have not changed. To do this, sign in to your GOV.UK childcare account. Go to the messages section for the next steps.
Apply for the extended, expanded hours offer through Best Start in Life.
15 hours a week for early learning for 2-year-olds
You can get 15 hours of free childcare a week if your child is 2 years old and your family needs additional financial support.
Check with us that you’re eligible
- fill in an application on Parent Portal
- we will give you a 6-digit code
- find childcare that is Ofsted-registered and give them your code
- we pay them directly.
Free childcare for foster carers
- check with your child’s social worker if they approve
- apply to us when your child is 16 weeks away from turning 3
- we will give you a code and tell your child’s social worker
- give the code to an approved childcare provider
Need help?
Contact us if you have any questions:
- Email: Family Information Service
- Phone: 0345 60 80 192, 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday