Funded Childcare: 15 & 30 Hours Explained
Everything you need to know about the fully expanded government childcare entitlements, your eligibility, and how to apply.
We understand that paying for childcare isn’t always easy, which is why we encourage all our parents to make use of the funded hours and support offered to them. Whether you are considering a nursery place for the first time or trying to understand your eligibility as your child grows, we have consolidated everything you need to know into this comprehensive guide.
Helpful Parent Resources
Download our comprehensive prospectus to discover our approach to early years education, or read our official Fees & Funding Pack for an in-depth breakdown of our contract structures.
The 2026 Childcare Entitlements & Regional Rules
Following the completion of the government’s phased rollout in September 2025, the fully expanded childcare support is now live and active. Because childcare funding is a devolved matter, the offer works differently depending on where your Kids Planet nursery is located:
England
Working Parents: Up to 30 hours of funded childcare is now available for children aged 9 months to 4 years. This is capped at 1,140 hours maximum per year (30 hours x 38 weeks).
Universal Support: 15 hours for ALL 3 & 4 year olds, capped at 570 hours maximum per year.
Government Support: Up to 15 hours for 2-year-olds on qualifying benefits (details on the Best Start in Life website).
Scotland
1,140 Hours: ALL 3 & 4 year olds receive universal Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) funding, regardless of whether their parents are working. Your 1,140 ELC funded hours legally include a free healthy meal and snack, meaning no extra meal fees apply for funded sessions.
Wales
Working Parents: Up to 30 hours for 3 & 4 year olds for 48 weeks a year (which is split into 39 weeks of term-time education plus 9 weeks of holiday childcare).
Working Parent Eligibility Rules (England & Wales)
For the working parent entitlements, eligibility depends on a few key criteria:
Earnings & Zero Hours
You (and your partner) must expect to earn at least £183 per week on average (equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage). On a zero-hours contract? You qualify if your fluctuating earnings average out to this threshold over 3 months.
Income Limits
Neither parent can have an adjusted net income of over £100,000 in the current tax year. Note that worldwide income counts in this calculation.
Leave & Disability
If on maternity, paternity, adoption, or sick leave, you still count as “working”. However, if applying for the child subject of the leave, you cannot start the entitlement until your return-to-work date is within one month of the term starting.
Additional Financial Support
Tax-Free Childcare
For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year (capped at £500 every three months). This results in a substantial 20% reduction in your childcare expenses and
can be used in conjunction with funded childcare hours.
Monthly savings examples:
• If your fees are £200, your saving is £40
• If your fees are £400, your saving is £80
• If your fees are £800, your saving is £160
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
This funding is aimed at improving the education of disadvantaged children aged 9 months and above.
Disability Access Funding (DAF)
Available to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA). This can begin from 9 months of age depending on eligibility.
Stretching Hours & Summer Starters
We are committed to making sure parents receive a consistent bill regardless of when they become eligible for their funding, so we stretch your hours evenly over 52 weeks of the year.
The number of funded hours you receive depends on when you become eligible during the academic year:
30 Hours Entitlement
Autumn or Spring starters: Receive 22 hours per week.
Summer starters: Start with 18 hours, increasing to 22 hours from the new academic year.
15 Hours Entitlement
Autumn or Spring starters: Receive 11 hours per week.
Summer starters: Start with 9 hours, increasing to 11 hours from the new academic year.
Government Support (15h)
Autumn or Spring starters: Receive 11 hours per week.
Summer starters: Start with 9 hours, increasing to 11 hours from the new academic year.
“Free” vs. “Funded”: Our Contract Options
Government funding is NOT intended to cover the costs of providing nutritious meals, snacks, consumables such as sun cream and nappies, or educational outings. To manage this and maintain our high standards, Kids Planet offers two contract structures:
The “Above and Beyond” Contract
This contract includes an “Essentials & Extras” charge applied only to sections of your booking where funding is applied. The charges are as follows:
Full Day
Half Day
Short Day
Meals
£7.00
£3.50
£5.60
Consumables
£2.00
£1.00
£1.60
Activities
£1.00
£0.50
£0.80
Example: If you attended 2 days with 5.5 hours of funding each day, you would be charged £5.50 per day for all meals, consumables, and activities.
Opting Out: These are Optional Services. If you wish to opt out, you must notify us 30 days before the start of the term. Alternatives include bringing your own consumables or your child being unable to attend extra-curricular activities.
The “Funded Only” Contract
Parents unwilling or unable to pay the Essentials & Extras charge can opt for a “Funded Only” contract. Please note:
•
This contract has limitations around additional sessions and may be restricted to “Off-Peak” session times.
•
Parents receiving Government Assistance Funding automatically operate under this contract and are exempt from the charge.
When & How to Apply
The funding starts the term after your child reaches the eligible age. You should apply for up to 30 hours of funded childcare when your child is 23 weeks old.
Child’s Birthday
When you can claim
Recommended apply time
1 Jan to 31 March
Term starting on or after 1 April
15 Jan to 28 Feb
1 April to 31 August
Term starting on or after 1 Sept
15 June to 31 July
1 Sept to 31 Dec
Term starting on or after 1 Jan
15 Oct to 30 Nov
1.
Apply for your entitlement by setting up a childcare account via the official government portal.
2.
Receive your unique 11-digit code and give it to your nursery manager.
3.
To claim the funding, you will need to complete a ‘Parental Agreement’ form online using the Funding Loop software platform.
⚠️ Warning: Revalidating Codes
Funding Loop will NOT re-check 30-hour codes every 3 months for eligible parents. You MUST manually revalidate your codes with HMRC every 3 months to continue receiving your extended hours.
Frequently Asked Questions & Billing Rules
How do I view my invoices?
You will be invited to download the Famly App by the Nursery Manager. All invoices will be received via email before their payment due date of the 1st of each month, and invoices can also be viewed directly on the Famly App along with your child’s daily journey.
Do I need to pay a registration fee?
If you are attending purely for your funded hours with us, then no registration fee will be applicable. However, if you will be attending private hours on top of your funded hours, a registration fee would be applicable.
What happens if I miss the deadline for my 30 Hour Code?
Working Families Codes only provide funding from the term following your application. If you miss the deadline (the last day of March, August, or December), you won’t be able to claim your funded hours for that term.
Can I change my booking pattern mid-term?
Sometimes, changes to booking patterns can mean that you can no longer claim the same amount of funded hours due to government restrictions. Please discuss any changes with the nursery before committing to them.
Can I switch from termly to stretched funding or vice versa?
We discourage parents from changing from stretched to term-time funding. If you do need to change, we ask that this occurs at the start of the next term rather than mid-term.
Can you claim at different settings?
Yes, you can split your funding across a maximum of two sites in any one day. However, it is imperative that you let each provider know that you are doing this so we can ensure that we are claiming the correct amount of funding.
Are absences and bank holidays chargeable?
Yes, year-round attendance is charged for 52 weeks in most settings, which includes bank holidays and nursery closures. Regardless of your booking pattern, non-attendance for holidays, birthdays, family days out, etc., will still be chargeable.
