30 Hours Free Childcare: Eligibility, Application, and What It Actually Covers

30 Hours Free Childcare is a government scheme that provides 30 hours of funded childcare per week for 3 and 4 year olds whose parents are working. The funding covers 38 weeks per year (term time) or can be stretched across 52 weeks at fewer hours.

All 3 and 4 year olds get 15 hours free regardless of parental circumstances. The additional 15 hours (bringing it to 30) is only for working families who meet the eligibility criteria.

#What You Get

• 30 hours of free childcare per week
• Available for 38 weeks per year (school term times)
• Can be stretched to 52 weeks at approximately 22 hours per week
• Applies from the term after your child turns 3 until they start reception class

For a child who turns 3 in December, the 30 hours begin in January (the following term). If they turn 3 in June, the 30 hours begin in September.

#Eligibility Requirements

Both parents (or the sole parent in single-parent households) must:

Be working and each earn at least:

• £183.04 per week (the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage for over-21s)
• This is £9,518 per year

Earn less than £100,000 per year (each parent individually, not household income)

#Who Counts as "Working"

You qualify if you're:

• Employed
• Self-employed
• On zero-hours contracts (if you meet the minimum earnings threshold)
• A company director paying yourself at least the minimum

You also qualify if you're not currently earning but:

• On parental leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, or adoption leave
• On statutory sick pay
• Your partner works and you receive Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer's Allowance, or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

#Self-Employed Parents

If you're self-employed and your business is less than 12 months old, you can use expected earnings to qualify. HMRC gives new businesses a "start-up period" where you don't need to prove you're meeting the earnings threshold.

After 12 months, your actual earnings must meet the minimum.

#The £100,000 Ceiling

Each parent must earn under £100,000. If either parent earns £100,000 or more, you don't qualify for the extended hours (though you still get the universal 15 hours).

This creates the same cliff edge as Tax-Free Childcare. A household with two parents earning £99,000 each qualifies. A household where one parent earns £101,000 doesn't.

#How to Apply

1. Go to gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare
2. Sign in with your Government Gateway account
3. Complete the eligibility check
4. Receive an 11-digit eligibility code if you qualify
5. Give the code to your childcare provider
6. The provider claims the funding from your local council

Your code is valid for the current term plus the "grace period" into the next term. You must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months to keep receiving funding.

#The Code Renewal Trap

If you don't reconfirm your eligibility before the deadline, your code expires. You'll lose the extended hours at the end of the grace period.

The government sends reminders, but they're easy to miss. Set your own calendar reminder for 2 weeks before each quarterly deadline.

#What the 30 Hours Covers

The funding pays for childcare at:

• Nurseries
• Pre-schools
• Childminders
• Some school nursery classes

The government pays providers a fixed hourly rate (set by each local council). Most providers accept the funding, but some don't because the rate doesn't cover their costs.

#What Isn't Covered

The 30 hours covers "childcare" but not:

• Meals and snacks
• Nappies and wipes
• Sun cream
• Trips and outings
• "Consumables" (art supplies, etc.)
• Extended hours beyond the 30

Providers can charge for these extras. A nursery charging £5/day for meals on top of the free hours is standard practice.

#The Funding Rate Gap

The government pays providers approximately £5-6 per hour (varies by council). Many nurseries charge parents £8-12 per hour. Some providers make up the difference through:

• Charging for extras (meals, consumables)
• Requiring you to pay for additional hours beyond the 30
• Only offering funded places at less popular times

Others don't accept funded children at all, or cap the number of funded places they offer.

#Term Time vs Stretched Hours

You have two options for using your 30 hours:

#Option 1: Term Time Only

• 30 hours per week for 38 weeks (school terms)
• No free hours during school holidays
• Total: 1,140 hours per year

#Option 2: Stretched Hours

• Spread 1,140 hours across 52 weeks
• Approximately 22 hours per week year-round
• Providers aren't required to offer this option

Stretched hours work better for parents who need consistent year-round care. Term-time hours work better if you have holiday cover (grandparents, taking time off work) or if your provider charges significantly more for holiday weeks.

#Combining with Other Support

#30 Hours + Tax-Free Childcare

You can use both. Tax-Free Childcare pays for:

• Hours beyond the free 30
• Meals and extras not covered by funding
• Holiday club fees
• Before/after school clubs

Get the 30 Hours code and a Tax-Free Childcare account. Use the free hours first, then pay for extras through your Tax-Free Childcare account to get the 20% government top-up.

#30 Hours + Childcare Vouchers

If you're still receiving childcare vouchers (closed to new applicants in 2018), you can use them alongside 30 Hours to pay for extras.

#30 Hours + Universal Credit

You can't receive 30 Hours and the Universal Credit childcare element for the same hours. But Universal Credit covers up to 85% of costs, which is more generous than the 30 Hours funding rate. Most families on Universal Credit are better off using the UC childcare element instead.

#What Happens When Your Child Starts School

The 30 Hours end when your child starts reception class, typically in the September after they turn 4.

If your child has a summer birthday and you defer school entry, they keep the 30 Hours until they actually start school (up to the term after they turn 5).

Once school starts, you can use Tax-Free Childcare for before/after school clubs and holiday care.

#Changes Coming in 2024-2025

The government is expanding free childcare:

These expansions use the same eligibility criteria (working, earning at least minimum wage for 16 hours, under £100,000 each).

#What BishBashDosh Shows You

When modelling your income, BishBashDosh factors in childcare costs and government support:

• Whether you qualify for 30 Hours based on your income
• The value of 30 Hours vs paying privately
• How salary sacrifice affects your eligibility (it doesn't, since it's based on contracted salary before sacrifice)
• Combined value of 30 Hours plus Tax-Free Childcare

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Can I split the hours between providers?

Yes. You can use your 30 Hours across multiple providers (e.g., nursery three days, childminder two days). Each provider claims their portion of the funding.

#What if my income drops below the minimum?

You have a grace period. If you stop working or your earnings fall below the threshold, you keep the 30 Hours until the end of the following term. This gives you time to find new work or adjust your situation.

#What if I become ineligible during the year?

The grace period applies. If one parent's income exceeds £100,000 or you stop working, you keep the hours until the end of the next term.

#Can grandparents be the childcare provider?

Only if they're a registered childminder. Unregistered relatives can't claim the funding. If a grandparent wants to provide paid childcare and claim the funding, they'd need to register with Ofsted.

#Do I need to use all 30 hours?

No. You can use fewer hours if that's all you need. The funding is a maximum, not a requirement.

#What if my provider doesn't accept funded hours?

Find another provider. Some nurseries in expensive areas don't accept funded children because the government rate doesn't cover their costs. This is legal but frustrating. Your local council's Family Information Service can help you find providers who accept funding.

#Can I use the hours for a nanny?

No. Nannies aren't eligible for 30 Hours funding, even if they're Ofsted registered. The scheme only covers group settings (nurseries, pre-schools, childminders).