Childcare Funding
Unlock the Door to Free Early Education and Childcare
Childcare funding in England has expanded. Eligible working families can now access support for children from the age of 9 months old until they start school.
To check your specific eligibility and apply for a code, please visit the official Childcare Choices website.
15 Hours Support for Families Receiving Additional Benefits
Your 2-year-old can receive 15 hours of free early education and childcare if you live in England and receive one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit – if you and your partner have a combined income from work of £15,400 or less a year, after tax
- Tax credits and you have an income of £16,190 or less a year, before tax
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- The Working Tax Credit 4-week run-on
A child is also eligible if any of the following apply:
- They’re looked after by a local council
- They have a current Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
- They receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- They’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order, or adoption order
If you have queries about accessing these specific places, please email: earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk
Funding for Working Parents
The expanded childcare offer is now fully available for working families in England:
- From 9 months old: Eligible working parents can access up to 30 hours of funded childcare.
- 3 and 4-year-olds: All children receive 15 hours of universal funding. Eligible working families can receive an additional 15 hours (30 hours total).
At Rowans Day Nursery, we offer the option to ‘stretch’ these hours over 52 weeks, providing consistent care throughout the year including school holidays.
Important Information: When to Apply
To access your funded place, you must have a valid eligibility code from HMRC by the end of the month before a new term starts. Codes must be reconfirmed every 3 months.
| Child’s Birthday | Apply By | Funding Starts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan – 31 March | 31 March | Summer Term (April) |
| 1 April – 31 Aug | 31 August | Autumn Term (Sept) |
| 1 Sept – 31 Dec | 31 December | Spring Term (Jan) |
Please note: If a child starts after the local authority headcount date (October, January, or May), the nursery may charge for the hours until the next funding period begins.
Important Informtion:
- Parents will need to apply for and receive their eligibility code on or before 31st March to be able to access the 15 working hours entitlement from 1st April. Encourage parents to apply early in case they need to provide any additional information to HMRC to support their application.
- An eligible 2 year old can access their place from the term after they turn 2 years old as long as they have their code in time.
- Providers will be required to check the codes are eligible for the term being applied for, using the same system that you currently use to check the 30 hours codes – Portal for PVI’s and ECS for schools.
If you would like more information about Rowans Day Nursery and discover how you can enrol with us click the button below
Please use the eligibility checker and apply for your free funding for this nursery.