--- title: "15 & 30 Hours Free Childcare Eligibility: Who Qualifies and How to Apply in 2026" date: 2026-08-24T10:00:00+01:00 author: MiChild Group canonical_url: "https://michildnurseries.co.uk/blog/15-30-hours-free-childcare-eligibility-who-qualifies-and-how-to-apply-in-2026" section: Blog --- [## Home.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/)[## About Us.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/about-us)[## Our Nurseries.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/our-nurseries)[## Learning.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/learning)[## Family Zone.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/families)[## Join Our Team.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/join-our-team)[## News & Stories.](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/blog)[0800 307 0155 0800 307 0155 ](tel:0800-307-0155)[Contact Us Contact Us ](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/contact) MG MiChild Group 1 min read 28 Sept 2026 # 15 & 30 Hours Free Childcare Eligibility: Who Qualifies and How to Apply in 2026 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. ![Child filling in exercise book](https://michild-nurseries.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/child-filling-in-exercise-book.jpg?w=1800&h=1013&q=80&fm=webp&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1790264892&s=a94a60674253e9bf7e20205c7eb3fb00) 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](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/our-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. ## **Key takeaways** - All 3 and 4-year-olds in England get 15 funded hours a week for 38 weeks a year, regardless of whether their parents work. - Eligible working parents can get 30 funded hours a week for children aged 9 months to 4 years, starting from the term after the child becomes eligible. - The extra 15 hours on top of the universal offer depend on work and income rules, including a minimum earnings threshold and a £100,000 adjusted net income cap per parent - Parents applying for the working-parent offer need to apply online and get a code, while the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds is usually arranged directly with the nursery. - Even when parents lose eligibility for 30 hours, many 3 and 4-year-olds can still continue receiving the universal 15 hours. ## **Who Is Eligible for 15 and 30 Hours Free Childcare?** 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: - **15 hours** is the standard offer for all 3 and 4-year-olds - **30 hours** is for families who meet the extra working-parent rules - Children under 3 do not access the universal 15 hours in the same way, but eligible working families may still qualify for funded childcare at the relevant age Take a look at our pages on[ funding](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/funding),[ FAQs](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/faqs), and[ locations](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/locations) if you’re looking for funded nursery placements in the North West. ![Close up toy cars on mat](https://michild-nurseries.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/close-up-toy-cars-on-mat_2026-09-24-162737_fhdh.jpg?w=1200&h=675&q=80&fm=webp&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1790267257&s=9e99f585f36a72cadf81ca636071423e) ## **15 and 30 Hours Free Childcare Criteria Explained** 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: - living in England - having a child of the right age - using an approved childcare provider For the 30 hours free childcare offer, the rules are broader. They usually include: - meeting the working-parent requirements - meeting the income rules - meeting immigration or residency requirements where relevant 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. ## **Am I Eligible for 15 and 30 Hours Free Childcare? Income and Salary Cap Rules** 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](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/). 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: 1. Each parent (or the sole parent) must usually expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the applicable National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, averaged over the next three months. 2. Neither parents earn more than £100,000 annually That means: - If you do not meet the 30-hour rules, your 3 or 4-year-old should still get the 15 hours - If you do meet the extra criteria, your child may get the full 30 hours 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](https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working)’. It’s also important to note that not all nurseries cover certain ‘extras’. For example, you might have to pay for nursery extras: - Meals - Nappies - Additional activities, such as trips 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. ![Teacher helping child with name writing](https://michild-nurseries.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/teacher-helping-child-with-name-writing.jpg?w=1200&h=675&q=80&fm=webp&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1790265021&s=38b9979e5b6992bef34383c245e9ebea) ## **How to Apply for 15 and 30 Hours Free Childcare and Get Your Code** Here’s the application process for both 15 hours and 30 hours of funded childcare. ### Apply for 15 Hours 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. ### Apply for 30 Hours Funded Childcare 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 >](https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account) Before applying, it helps to speak to your nursery about how funded hours are used in practice. The [Gov.uk](http://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](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/locations) if you’re thinking of booking a spot. ## **When Do 15 and 30 Hours Free Childcare Start and Stop?** 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): 1. Expect to earn below the minimum earnings threshold. 2. Start earning over £100,000 annually 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](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/locations), read more about[ funding](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/funding), or[ get in touch](https://michildnurseries.co.uk/contact) to ask about places, availability, and how 15 and 30 hours funded childcare work at your preferred nursery. 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