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Funding & money

15 hours of funded childcare — who gets it and how to claim

The universal 15 funded hours for all 3- and 4-year-olds, plus the disadvantaged 2-year-old entitlement — explained with eligibility checklists and term dates.

Reviewed by the Nursery Advice editorial teamLast updated 2 July 2026Next review 30 November 2026Editorial standards

There are three different 15-hour entitlements in England, and they often get confused. The 15 hours funded childcare offer covers eligible 2-year-olds and the universal 3–4 entitlement, plus a working-parents route from 9 months. This guide explains which one you qualify for, when it starts, and how to claim it1. Once you’ve confirmed eligibility, search Nursery Advice to find settings taking new funded starters near you.

The three routes to 15 funded hours

1. Universal 15 hours for all 3- and 4-year-olds

Every child in England is entitled to 15 hours of funded early education a week (570 hours/year, usually 38 weeks term-time) from the term after their third birthday until they start reception. No income test, no work test — it’s universal.

2. 15 hours for disadvantaged 2-year-olds

A 2-year-old qualifies if their family receives certain benefits (Universal Credit with household income under £15,400 after tax, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, etc.) or if the child has additional needs (an EHC plan, DLA, looked-after status). Apply through your local council.

3. 15 hours via the working-parents route (9 months to 3 years)

If you qualify for working-parents funded childcare, you get 15 hours from 9 months to age 3, and 30 hours from 3 until school. Same code, same application.

How to claim

  1. For the universal 15: speak to your nursery from the term before your child turns 3 — they handle the paperwork with the council. No code required.
  2. For the 2-year-old disadvantaged route: check eligibility on your local council’s website (they all have a "free childcare for 2-year-olds" page) and apply there.
  3. For the working-parents 15: apply at gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare and give your code to the nursery before the term deadline.

Stretching the hours

  • Most settings let you "stretch" 15 hours/week (38 weeks) to ~11 hours/week (52 weeks) so you can use the funding year-round.
  • You can split across two providers (e.g. nursery and pre-school) but not more than two in a single day — see nurseries in your area to plan a two-setting split.
  • Hours must be used during the setting’s funded sessions — you can’t bank them across terms.

Estimate your nursery bill

Childcare cost calculator

Open full tool
England (outside London)
Estimated net cost
£3,163/ year
£264 / month · £61 / week
  • Net to you£3,163
  • Funded hours£7,980
  • Tax-Free Childcare£332
Child's age

2 years

Days per week
Hours per day
Include hidden charges (£12/day)

Most nurseries charge a daily supplement for food, nappies, sun cream and trips on top of fees and funded hours. The England (outside London) average is around £12 per day your child attends. Toggle off if your nursery doesn't.

Term-time only (38 weeks)

Otherwise we use 51 weeks of nursery a year.

Both parents working

Each earning at least minimum wage and under £100k. Unlocks working-parent funded hours & Tax-Free Childcare.

Receiving Universal Credit

Unlocks the 85% UC childcare element instead of Tax-Free Childcare.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to apply for the universal 15 hours?
No — just tell your nursery when your child becomes eligible. The setting handles the paperwork with your local council.
My child turns 3 in October. When do the hours start?
The term after — in this case, the spring term beginning January. Apply in October so the nursery has the paperwork in time.
Can my child have both the 2-year-old disadvantaged route and the working-parents route?
Yes — if you qualify for both, you can use whichever gives you the most hours. From age 3, they’re combined into the 30 hours.

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About this guide & sources

Every numerical claim in this guide is sourced from UK government, NHS or recognised charity publications. We re-check each source on the article’s review date.

  1. Best Start in Life / DfE — 15 and 30 hours funded childcare — working parents (retrieved 2026-05-19)
  2. GOV.UK — Help paying for childcare (retrieved 2026-05-19)

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