How to get 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. The number of hours depends on the child’s age and your situation.
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.
When can you start receiving free childcare?
The government is providing more childcare for working families.
0 to 8 months old:
No funded childcare available.
9 to 23 months old:
- From September 2025: 30 hours a week for working families
2 years old:
- From September 2025: 30 hours a week for working families
3 to 4-year-olds:
- Available now: 15 hours a week for all children
- Available now: 30 hours a week for working families
Free 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 apply, speak to your childcare provider.
To find a provider, visit ESCIS – Find a childcare provider (East Sussex County Council’s database).
Free 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.
Free Childcare for Families Receiving Additional Support (FRAS) for 2-year-olds (previously disadvantaged)
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.
Free childcare for foster carers
If your foster child is two years old, they already get 15 hours a week of funded childcare for Families Receiving Additional Support.
After that, all 3 to 4-year-olds get 15 hours a week of funded childcare. Foster carers can boost this to 30 hours a week if they have extra paid work. 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 funded childcare for younger children from September 2025. You apply through us for this.
Apply for 2-year-old childcare funding
When Can My Child Start 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 approval.
- 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, ask them to spread out your 38 weeks of funded childcare over the extra weeks. This is called a stretched offer.
Will you have to pay anything for your free childcare?
No. The hours must be free. Your provider may charge for consumables, such as 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. Funding is 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 funded 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.