Free childcare and early education places

Free Childcare and early education places for children age 9months – 4 years

Funded childcare for working parents

You may be able to get up to 30 hours of funded childcare if you live and work in England.

This starts from the term after your child turns 9 months old and continues until they start school.

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

• If you are a Foster Carer(s) and work outside your fostering role please contact us on 01782 232200 / beststart@stokegov.uk

Check if you are eligible

You can usually apply if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• in work (including self-employment)
• starting a new job
• on sick leave or annual leave
• on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave
• receiving statutory neonatal care pay
• on bereaved partner paternity leave

https://www.gov.uk/get-free-childcare-if-youre-working

If you are not eligible

You can still get 15 hours of funded childcare for children aged 3 and 4.

This is available from the term after your child turns 3 until they start school, whatever your:

• income
• benefits
• family circumstances

Funded childcare for 2-year-olds

Some families can get 15 hours of funded childcare for 2-year-olds under a separate scheme.

Please see the next page to find out more.

When can my child start?

You can start using your entitlements from the term after your child turns the relevant age to use that entitlement. The relevant age for the working parent entitlement is 9 months old.

You are only able to claim the entitlements from the term after they become the relevant age because this gives local authorities and childcare providers enough time to prepare. For the working parent entitlement, if you are not eligible to apply in the term your child reaches the relevant age, you will need to wait until the following term to make an application.