In September 2024, the UK government began revisions to funded childcare options for working families. We covered the full breadth of offers in our blog post here. With September 2025 looming, the full breadth of childcare offered is almost available to many families, depending on income, immigration status and other factors.
Not sure if you’re eligible, what for, or how to apply? Read on to double check.
Am I eligible for funded childcare?
We’ve used the term ‘funded’ here, as opposed to ‘free’. We say this because many nurseries will charge supplementary fees on top of your paid childcare hours. You will also need to apply for your childcare hours to be funded, as opposed to immediate access.
All childcare eligibility is dependent on your household income, your child’s age, your employment status (employed, self-employed or director), and your immigration status.
If you, or your partner if you have one, are individually expected to earn over £100,000 in the tax year, you will not be eligible. As it currently stands, the UK government state that you must be earning the following amounts as a minimum to qualify:
“Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:
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£2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £183 per week)
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£1,788 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £137 per week)
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£1,331 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £102 per week)”
If you are self employed, you can work out an average of your monthly earnings over the tax year.
In terms of immigration status, the UK government states:
“To be eligible for free childcare for working parents, you (and your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number.
The person who applies must also have at least one of the following:
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British or Irish citizenship
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settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision
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permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this”
What can I access for funded childcare in September 2025?
As of September 2025, when the government offer for funded childcare will be extended to all children from 9 months to 4 years, if you meet the above eligibility criteria, you may be eligible for 30 hours of funded child care per child in term time (38 weeks of the year). Some nurseries allow you to ‘stretch’ this to cover non term-time, allowing for fewer hours each week, but for more weeks of the year. Check with individual childcare providers to see if this is an option for you.
I’m not eligible for funded childcare - is there anything else I can do?
For further information on benefits you might claim if you don’t fit the eligibility criteria for funded childcare, click here.
Still can’t quite work it out?
Unsure of where you stand? Head to the UK government website to find out what your options are.
