Working Parent Entitlement for children from 9 months old
If you are an eligible working parent, you can currently apply for 15 hours of childcare for your 9 to 35-month-old.
If you apply more than 3 months before the start of the new term, you will need to reconfirm your details before the end of the month before the start of the new term. This is to ensure you are still eligible.
Some childcare providers may offer fewer hours per week over more weeks of a year (up to 570 hours). This is known as stretched funding.
The Department for Education sets the dates for when children become eligible by age.
Here are the applicable dates for the entitlement from 9 months and 2 years and application deadlines.
9-month-olds and above
| Child born | Child turns 9 months | Will become eligible for free childcare | Deadline for applying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 November | 1 April to 31 August | The start of term 1 (after summer holiday) | 31 August |
| 1 December to 31 March | 1 September to 31 December | The start of term 3 (after Christmas/New Year holiday) | 31 December |
| 1 April to 30 June | 1 January to 31 March | The start of term 5 (after Easter holiday) | 31 March |
2-year-olds
| Child born between | Will become eligible for free early education and childcare |
|---|---|
| 1 January and 31 March | The start of term 5 following their second birthday (after Easter holiday) |
| 1 April and 31 August | The start of term 1 following their second birthday (after summer holiday) |
| 1 September and 31 December | The start of term 3 following their second birthday (after Christmas/New Year holiday) |
Foster carers
Some children in foster care may be able to receive 15 hours free childcare if:
- accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child's care plan
- there is a single foster parent family and the foster parent is engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent
- there are 2 foster parents in the same fostering household and both are engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent.
If you are a foster carer, speak to your social worker to start the process. They must complete a separate form before an eligibility check. This is not done through HMRC.
Once eligible, you must reconfirm your details every 3 months. This is completed through a Reconfirmation Statement.
If you are fostering a child from outside of Kent, contact the supervising social worker from that authority. You can apply through them for the funding.
Eligibility
To qualify for a childcare code you must meet the following criteria. Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:
- £2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £183 per week)
- £1,788 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £137 per week)
- £1,331 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £102 per week).
This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.
You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:
- you work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly
- you’re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months.
Example
You’re eligible if you’re 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £9,518 a year. This is the same as earning £2,379 every 3 months on average.
If you start a new job or are on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
The date you start a new job or return to work will affect when you can get free childcare.
| Date of starting or returning to work | When you can get your hours from |
|---|---|
| 1 May to 30 September | Term starting on or after 1 September |
| 1 October to 31 January | Term starting on or after 1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April | Term starting on or after 1 April |
Visit Childcare Choices for more information, to sign up for updates and try out the handy eligibility checker to discover how you can save money on your childcare.
Apply for free childcare if you're working.
Using your Working Parent Entitlement
Read our guide to the Working Parent Entitlement. It explains the full eligibility criteria, how to apply, and other details.