How to use your 15 (universal) hours of free childcare entitlement
You can use your 15 hours between 6am and 8pm for a maximum of 10 hours a day.
Split your hours
You can split your 15 hours between providers. For example, a nursery and a childminder. But, you can't use more than 2 sites each day. You don't have to use the whole 15 hours.
Not all providers can be flexible in how they offer the free hours. So, check with your chosen provider to make sure their offer suits your needs.
Stretch your funding
Some providers may offer a stretched pattern of hours. This means, you get fewer hours each week, but for more weeks of the year. You will need to discuss this with your chosen provider.
When a provider is not open for the full 38 weeks, you cannot claim more than 15 (universal) or 30 (extended) hours each week over fewer weeks of the year. If you choose a provider that is open for fewer than 38 weeks of the year you will not receive your full entitlement.
When to use your funding
The 38 weeks or more of free hours can be used in line with the following academic periods:
- Autumn: 1 September to 31 December
- Spring: 1 January to last day of the spring holiday
- Summer: First day of the summer term to 31 August.
Your childcare provider will tell you how many weeks you can use during each period.
What the provider needs from you
To claim funding, the provider will ask:
- to see your child’s birth certificate or passport
- you to complete a parental declaration form and will claim the funding for you.
There is no monetary value to you – the entitlement is up to 570 hours free childcare per year. The year starts when your child first becomes eligible for funding. They must also be in the correct date of birth range.
Headcount week
Your child must attend the Kent headcount week to claim the universal element of the free early education and childcare for that term.
Late joiners can claim if their child:
- is moving to Kent from another local authority after headcount week or;
- has not claimed at another setting in Kent during that academic period.
If you have not claimed the full 15 hours during headcount, you cannot increase the number of universal hours your 3 or 4 year old attends in the middle of the term.
There are exceptional circumstances where you can make an appeal. For example where a professional supports the increase to meet your child’s health or development needs.
Transfer funding during headcount week
Providers are under no obligation to transfer funding. If you switch providers after the headcount week, you might need to pay the new one until the start of the next term.
An appeals process is in place for exceptional circumstances such as a move, due to adoption or domestic violence.