Free early learning and childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds
Find out more and how to apply for up to 30 hours of free early learning and childcare per week.
For information about free early learning and childcare contact the Family Information Service on 020 7527 5959 or FIS@islington.gov.uk.
15 hours free early learning
All 3 and 4-year-olds can get 15 hours free early learning in the school term after they turn three.
If your child's birthday is:
- before 1 September, they can start in the autumn term
- before 1 January, they can start in the spring term
- before 1 April, they can start in the summer term.
Places are usually available for 15 hours a week, for up to 38 weeks a year (570 hours per year).
These hours can be for:
- nurseries, including in children’s centres
- childminders who are signed up to the scheme.
Get your 15 free hours
You do not need to apply for 15 hours a week free early learning. The childcare provider will arrange the funding for you. You should remind your providers when your child has turned three so that the provider can apply for funding.
Children aged 3 and 4, continue to be funded for free early learning during term time, until they start in Reception.
30 hours free childcare
Eligible working parents can get an extra 15 hours of free childcare per week for their 3 and 4-year-olds. These families can access up to 30 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks per year (up to 1,140 hours per year).
If you are eligible for 30 hours free childcare you can get this in the school term after your child turns three.
If you are not eligible for 30 hours free childcare, you may be able to pay for extra hours at a range of childcare and free early education providers, including school nurseries. Speak to providers about their charges for extra hours.
Application process
- Parent checks their eligibility and if successful, they will receive an eligibility code. There will be an eligibility code per parent/child combination. Each individual child will have their own code, e.g. if a parent has twins, they will receive two codes, one for each child.
- Parent takes their eligibility code to a childcare provider of their choice. The provider will inform the parent whether they provide places for the 30 hours. If the provider does provide 30 hours places, the provider will validate the eligibility code. Once the code is validated providers can offer a 30 hours place.
- Providers may ask parents for their National Insurance number and the child’s date of birth to verify the code.
- HMRC will remind parents to reconfirm their eligibility every 3 months and to declare any changes to their circumstances.
- Parents can access their childcare account at any time after they have applied.
How do I reconfirm my eligibility at the end of the three month period and what happens if my circumstances have changed?
HMRC will send out reminders to parents about the need to reconfirm their eligibility before the end of the three month validity period and how to do this. Parents will be able to reconfirm their circumstances and declare any changes after receiving the reminder from HMRC. The eligibility code for a parent / child combination will not change over time even if its validity ends and a new application is submitted.
If a parents circumstances change and they are no longer eligible for the 30 hours of free childcare, a grace period will apply so that children can continue with their free place for a short period of time. If a parent’s circumstances change again whilst they are in the grace period, they may reapply and become eligible again.
If you pass the end date of the grace period and you have not regained eligibility your child will stop receiving 30 hours and go back to the universal 15 hour offer. If you regain eligibility after this, you will need to reconfirm your eligibility. If you are successful your child can receive 30 hours from the start of the following term.
Losing your eligibility
What if I or my partner loses our job – does my child stop receiving the additional hours?
If you or your partner lose a job and no longer meet the eligibility criteria, you will enter a grace period. During this time your child will continue to receive 30 hours. Once the grace period has ended, your child will go back to receiving the universal 15 hours free childcare. However, if you find a new job during the grace period and meet the eligibility criteria again, you can continue to receive the 30 hours provided you confirm your eligibility again using the eligibility checker.
How long is the grace period?
The length of the grace period depends on when in the year you lose eligibility. This is because local authorities have to conduct audit checks at specific points in the year.| Date parent receives ineligible decision on reconfirmation | Local Authority audit date | Grace period end date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January - 10 February | 11 February | 31 March |
| 11 February - 31 March | 1 April | 31 August |
| 1 April - 26 May | 27 May | 31 August |
| 27 May - 31 August | 1 September | 31 December |
| 1 September - 21 October | 22 October | 31 December |
| 22 October - 31 December | 1 January | 31 March |
How can I use funded hours?
Do I have to take up all of the funded hours?
No, you can take as many funded hours up to the limit as you like. Discuss what suits your family with your chosen childcare provider to see if they are able to accommodate your request.
When can I use the funded hours?
The hours can be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year.
Parents can ‘stretch’ their free childcare over the full year if this is what is required and providers can accommodate this.
The funded hours could be used from 6am to 8pm.
There is no minimum session length; however, the maximum session length is 10 hours.
Providers and parents are best placed to agree the appropriate amount of time a child can spend in a provision.
Children can access a maximum of two sites on any one day.
All registered childcare providers, including schools, private day nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are able to deliver the funded entitlement.
Can I use the funded hours to pay for a nanny?
No, the funded entitlements have to be taken at a childcare provider who is registered to deliver the early education entitlement and nannies are not registered to do so.
My relative is a childminder. Can they claim for funded hours?
No. Early years provision by a childminder for a related child does not count as childcare in legal terms. Government funding cannot be claimed by, or spent on, childminders providing childcare for their own child or a related child, even if they are claiming for other children.
However, a local authority can choose to fund the parent providing childcare for their child but this would have to be from other local authority funds.