Find out who qualifies for 15 and 30 hours of funded childcare in England, how to apply and when funding starts so you can get everything in place.
Funded childcare can make a huge difference for so many parents. It can be the lifeline needed to balance work and personal life, and make budgets manageable and realistic. But the rules around funded childcare can feel more complicated than they need to be.
The facts are plain: in England, all 3 and 4-year-olds can still get the universal 15 hours, and eligible working parents can get up to 30 funded hours a week from the term after their child turns 9 months old until school age. So, how can parents apply, and how can they get the most funded childcare available to them?
At MiChild, we know funding is often one of the first things parents ask about when they start comparing nurseries. And as we support government-funded placements across all of our North West nurseries, we’ve got all the details to explain everything to you. So here’s what you need to know to find out if you qualify and apply.
Funded childcare in 2026 can get complicated. So let’s break it down easily. It helps to separate the two offers clearly.
The 15 hours free childcare offer is the universal entitlement for all 3 and 4-year-olds in England. That means families do not need to meet a working-parent income threshold to access it.
The 30 hours free childcare offer is different. It is aimed at eligible working families and usually means the universal 15 hours plus an extra 15 funded hours. For younger children, eligible working parents may also qualify for funded childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months old.
In simple terms:
Take a look at our pages on funding, FAQs, and locations if you’re looking for funded nursery placements in the North West.
15 hours acts as the baseline for everyone. So the eligibility rules are much simpler for 15 hours than they are for 30 hours. Here’s how the criteria work.
For the 15 hours free childcare offer, the main point is your child’s age. If your child is 3 or 4 and lives in England, they can usually access the universal entitlement, as long as you meet these requirements:
For the 30 hours free childcare offer, the rules are broader. They usually include:
Families first access the 15 hours and then later check whether they are entitled to the full 30 hours.
It is also helpful to remember that both offers are usually described as funded hours for 38 weeks of the year, although some nurseries may spread them across more weeks on a stretched basis.
Find out now exactly what you’re eligible to claim.
For 15 hours of free childcare, there is no equivalent working-parent income test for the universal 3 and 4-year-old offer. If your child is the right age, they can usually receive those hours, and it’s then a case of finding a childcare provider that offers government-funded places.
For 30 hours of free childcare, the income and work rules matter much more. In most cases, you and your partner, if you have one, must each expect to earn at least the minimum required amount over the next 3 months. Specifically, you must meet these criteria:
That means:
This is one of the biggest reasons parents should avoid thinking about funding as a single scheme. The 15-hour and 30-hour offers overlap, but they are not the same thing, it’s more like tiered eligibility.
Find out more about the 30-hour entitlement on the Gov.uk page ‘Free Childcare for Working Parents’.
It’s also important to note that not all nurseries cover certain ‘extras’. For example, you might have to pay for nursery extras:
These additional nursery costs vary across providers, so asking for clarification before committing is the best way to manage your childcare budget with the 15 or 30 hours.
Here’s the application process for both 15 hours and 30 hours of funded childcare.
Parents usually arrange this directly with their nursery or childcare provider. In many cases, there is no need for the same type of application code used for the working-parent scheme.
Eligible working parents need to apply online through a childcare account. If approved, they receive an 11-digit code, which they need to give to the nursery.
Apply for 30 hours of funded childcare >
Before applying, it helps to speak to your nursery about how funded hours are used in practice. The Gov.uk website states that “all 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. You can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks, if your childcare provider offers this option”.
Mi Child nurseries all offer funded places, and we’re happy to organise your hours around whatever works for you. Take a look at all of our nursery locations if you’re thinking of booking a spot.
Both the 15-hour and 30-hour schemes begin from the next term after your child reaches the qualifying age, usually starting on the 1st of January, April, or September. So it’s good to be aware (and plan ahead) that if your child becomes eligible part-way through a term, their funded hours usually start from the next term rather than immediately.
While your work situation won’t affect your entitlement to 15 hours of childcare, some changes could impact your 30-hour eligibility, as this depends on you continuing to meet the working-parent rules. If you become ineligible, the extra 15 hours may end. Pay attention and update your Gov.uk account if you (or your partner):
If you are comparing funded nursery places for your family, MiChild offers inspiring, affordable childcare in safe and secure settings across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire, with funded places available for eligible families. You can explore MiChild locations, read more about funding, or get in touch to ask about places, availability, and how 15 and 30 hours funded childcare work at your preferred nursery.
