Apply for funded childcare
Apply for 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 funded 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, and the Council will pay them for your free hours
Apply for the expanded hours for working families
If you work and need more funded childcare, you might get:
- 30 hours a week if your child is 3 or 4
- 30 hours a week for children aged 9 months or older (starting September 2025)
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.
Apply for 15 hours a week childcare funding for disadvantaged 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. help.
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.
Apply via the Council for childcare funding for disadvantaged 2-year-olds
Apply for 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 three.
- 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 for help or if you have any questions:
Email: Customer Relations Team
Phone: 0345 60 80 192 (lines are open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday.)