Child Funding

Funded hours will be changing!

In March 2023, the Government announced plans to increase access to funded childcare hours to include younger children. The phased introduction of this plan begins in April 2024 through to September 2025.

Coming in 2024

Coming in April 2024 new funding. More parents will be able to apply for 15-hour funding for two-year-olds. You may be eligible for 15 hours of funding for your two-year-old if you are working and earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage, but less than £100,000 a year. If you are a couple, then this applies to each of you – if one of you doesn’t work, or one of you earns over £100,000, you won’t be eligible. To find out more about the new funding, please sign up on the Government Childcare Choices Website and speak to your local Willows Pre-School Manager about availability.

Government webpages:

+ Childcare Choices
+ Childcare Calculator
+ Apply for 30-hour funding
+ Funded Hours for 2-year-olds
+ Check if you can apply for Tax-free Childcare
+ Finding an approved childcare provider
+ Apply for Tax-free Childcare

Funded childcare 15 hours

All parents of 3 and 4 year-olds are entitled to the 15 hours funding

From the term after your child’s 3rd birthday and until they start school, you can get 570 hours of government-funded childcare a year. It’s known as the 15 hours funding since it relates to 15 hours of funded care a week for 38 weeks of the year (term-time).

Just contact us and let us know that you want to use your 15 hours funding.

Funded childcare 15 hours for 2 year-olds

Some parents will be able to apply for 15 hours funding for 2 year olds.

If you are in receipt of certain benefits such as Income Support or Universal Credit, or your child has Disability Living Allowance or an education, health and care (EHC) plan, you may be able to get 15 funded hours for your child.

You’ll need to speak to someone at your local council – or contact us

Funded childcare 30 hours

You may be eligible for an additional 15 hours (30 hours funding).

You must be working and earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage, but less than £100,000 a year. If you are a couple, then this applies to each of you – if one of you doesn’t work, or one of you earns over £100,000, you won’t be eligible.

How do I get it?

You need to apply for the additional 15 funded hours through the government’s website (see Toolkit at the end of this guide). Applying for additional 15 hours funded childcare usually takes people around 20 minutes. You’ll need your National Insurance number (or your Unique Taxpayer Reference if you’re self-employed). If you are a couple, you will need this information for each of you.

If your application is successful, you’ll receive the additional 15 hours funding code. Just send us the code and secure your child’s place.