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Funded childcare for working families

As many parents/carers may be aware families meeting a specific criteria will be able to claim an additional 15 hours funded childcare on top of the existing 15 hours already available to all 3 and 4 year olds.

This additional offer is aimed specifically at those families who meet the criteria below:

  • both parents/carers are working (or sole parent in a lone parent family) and each parent earns on average: a weekly minimum wage the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage (NMW) or living wage (NLW) and less than £100,000 per year each
  • both parents are employed but one or both is temporarily away from the workplaces on parental, maternity, paternity, adoption leave or statutory sick pay
  • one parent is employed and the other parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring
  • one parent is employed and one parent is disabled/incapacitated based on specific benefits
  • foster parents who are in paid work outside their role as a foster parent.

You do not need to actually work 16 hours per week but your earnings must meet the minimum equivalent of national minimum or living wage.

All childcare providers registered with Ofsted are able to deliver this funding including childminders and schools with a nursery provision. Each provider will have their own offer and you should discuss this directly with the childcare provider of your choice.

30 hours funding for Foster Child(ren)

From September 2018, foster carers who meet the criteria as shown below can apply for 30 hours funded childcare for the child(ren) they are fostering.  Foster carers will need to complete the application form available on this page and discuss it with the Child's worker, who will need to countersign the application before it is sent to the Nursery Funding Team. 

Children in foster care will be able to receive 30 hours funded childcare if the following criteria are met by their carer(s):

  • That, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside of their role as a foster parent.
    and
    That accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child’s care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making

Or

  • In two parent foster families, both partners engage in paid work outside of their role as a foster parent.  If one partner is not a foster parent then they must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum/national living wage.
    and
    That accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child’s care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making.

Last updated: 21/12/2023 15:49

  1. Introduction
  2. Eligibility
  3. How do I apply/renew?
  4. Contact