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 Childcare Choices. This is the government eligibility checker.
Childcare Choices 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.
0-8 months old:
No funded childcare available.
9-23 months old
- From September 2024: 15 hours a week for working families
- From September 2025: 30 hours a week for working families
2 years old
- From April 2024: 15 hours a week for working families
- From September 2025: 30 hours a week for working families
3–4-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 a week of free childcare when their children are 3-4 years old. This continues until they start school.
You can apply through a childcare provider for this. To find a childcare provider, search ESCIS (East Sussex County Council’s database).
ESCIS – Find a childcare provider
Free childcare for working families
Working parents can get an extra 15 hours of funded childcare for their 3 to 4-year-olds. This adds up to 30 hours a week in total. But there are rules you need to meet:
- Each person in your household works at least 16 hours a week at minimum wage
- No one in your household earns over £100,000 a year
- If you’re a single-parent family, you need to meet the same rules
Free Childcare for Disadvantaged 2-Year-Olds
The government offers free childcare to families with disadvantaged 2-year-olds. This may include you if you or your partner:
- Get benefits or other government help
- Have a disability, or your child has a disability
- Moved from another country and can’t get benefits
You apply through us for this.
Free childcare for foster carers
If your foster child is two years old, they already get 15 hours a week of funded childcare for disadvantaged 2-year-olds. After that, all 3-4-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 April 2024 and September 2025. You apply through us for this.
Apply for 2-year-old childcare funding
Can you start your free childcare on your child’s birthday?
You can’t start free childcare on your child’s birthday. You have three times a year to apply. They are:
- Autumn: September to December
- Spring: January to March
- Summer: April to August
You apply and get approval, then you can start in the next period. For example, if your child’s birthday is in September, you apply and get approved later in the autumn term, and they start their funded childcare in January (spring term).
Allow at least a month for your application to be processed, or you may not get approval in time for the next term.
What if you need extra hours?
If you need more hours, ask your childcare provider to add them as non-funded hours. You’ll pay their private published rate 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.