Funded childcare for working families
Support for working families is expanding
9 month - 2 year old funded childcare for working parents
From the 12 May 2025 working parents with 9 month old children will be able to apply for a 30 hour funded place which will start in September 2025.
Eligibility criteria, application process and all information regarding this funding entitlement can be found on the 30 hours childcare page as it will remain the same as 30 hours for 3 and 4 year old children of working parents.
Visit the GOV.UK website to start an application.
30 hours funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds
Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) administers the Childcare Choices website and helpline for 30 hours and tax-free childcare registration. Visit the Childcare Choices website for 30 hours and tax-free childcare registration.
Without a 30 hours code, parents will not be able to receive funding for the additional entitlement.
Parents of children already on the scheme are reminded they must reconfirm their eligibility every three months from the date of receiving their code. If they don’t do this, they will automatically be put into their “grace period” (the duration of the following half term) before losing their funding.
Please note: you cannot access your funding in your Grace Period for the first time if you have not used your code before, please ensure your code is always updated regularly.
Should you require any further information, please email childcarefunding@telford.gov.uk or telephone 01952 385385.
Watch the DfE video on how to apply for 30 hours childcare and tax-free childcare:
| When you child is 9 months old | When you can get your hours from | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January | No later than 31 December |
| 1 January to 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April | No later than 31 March |
| 1 April to 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September | No later than 31 August |
| Term starting funding | A New application should be made | Existing applications/codes | Final acceptance of a code start date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Summer term (April) |
No later than 28 February any code dated after 31 March cannot be used until the next term | Must be renewed by the applicants validity end date | 31 March |
| Autumn term (September) |
No later than 31 July any code dated after 31 August cannot be used until the next term | Must be renewed by the applicants validity end date | 31 August |
| Spring term (January) |
No later than 30 November any code dated after 31 December cannot be used until the next term | Must be renewed by the applicants validity end date | 31 December |
Codes received after the final acceptance date or mid term cannot be used until the following term, parents and carers should be mindful that all codes must be kept up to date as per the end date stated as this will also affect your eligbility.
Choosing childcare
- View information on how to find a nursery provider.
- View information about financial support and help with childcare costs.
For more information about the different types of childcare and childminding available to you or what offer is available in your choice of provision please contact the Family Connect team:
Telephone: 01952 385385
Email: familyconnect@telford.gov.uk
Last updated : 15 May 2025
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 : 13 June 2024
Visit the Childcare Choices website to apply online for 30 hours childcare
To renew your code you should log into your Childcare Choices account online and reconfirm your details.
Foster carers should contact the child's social worker directly to apply for 30 hours and also contact for renewal.
It is the parent/carers responsibility to ensure all codes are valid and kept up to date. It is not the responsibility of the Local Authority or the Childcare Provider. Failure to update you codes regularly will lead to the loss of funding.
Last updated : 5 September 2024