Government Funding
Changes to Funded Childcare from April 2024
On 15th March 2023, the government announced plans to increase access to funded childcare hours to include younger children. The phased introduction of this plan begins in April 2024 through to September 2025.
From April 2024, children aged two are to receive 15 hours of funded childcare.
As of September 2024, children aged nine months are to have access to the 15 hours of funded childcare.
By September 2025, all eligible children aged from nine months to school age are to receive 30 hours of funded childcare.
For more information on these changes and how to apply, please click here
15 Hours Funding
In England, there are two government funded 15 hours free early education schemes that offer childcare for children aged two, three and four:
- 15 hours funded childcare for eligible 2-year-olds
- 15 hours funded childcare for all 3 and 4-year-olds
For more information regarding the 2 year old offer, please click here
For more information regarding the 3 and 4 year old offer, please click here
30 Hours Funding
All three- and four-year-old children in England receive 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. Some children may also be entitled to an additional 15 hours of free childcare, otherwise known as the '30 Hours Childcare' or 'Extended Entitlement'. This entitlement would overall amount to 1,140 hours of funded childcare.
For more information regarding the 30 Hours Funded Childcare offer for 3 and 4 year olds, please click here
Additional Charges
The Department for Education issued guidance in December 2016 stating that the Early Years Funding is intended to cover the cost to deliver 15 or 30 hours of free, high quality, flexible childcare and does not cover consumables - morning and afternoon snack, lunch and tea.
| Morning Snack and Lunch | Afternoon Snack and Tea |
|---|---|
| £3.75 per session | £3.25 per session |
Parents who do not wish to opt-in to these additional charges will need to provide a fresh fruit snack and/or a healthy, nut-free packed lunch/tea from home for their child's funded session.
These additional charges are only applicable to the 15/30 Hours Funded Childcare.
Top-up Sessions
Children attending via the 15/30 Hours Free Childcare scheme can add additional hours to their current attending sessions through the use of top-up sessions and a minimum of 3 top-up sessions are required. As these top-up sessions are private, the additional charges do not apply for these sessions but remain payable for the funded sessions only.