Eligibility for a Full-Time Entitlement
Some working parents will be eligible for an additional 15 hours of free childcare for their 3 and 4 year olds. These families will be able to access up to 30 hours of free childcare a week, 38 weeks a year.
🔷If their birthday is before 1 September, they can start in the autumn term
🔷If their birthday is before 1 January, they can start in the spring term
🔷If their birthday is before 1 April, they can start in the summer term
You will need to apply well in advance as you must have your 'eligibility code' before the term starts.
You may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare if your circumstances are as follows:
🔷Both parents are earning or expect to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months.
This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract.
🔷Where one or both parents are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave.
🔷Where one parent meets the income criteria and the other is unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work.
🔷Where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’ (i.e. they are newly self-employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months.
🔷If a non-EEA national, the parent must have recourse to public funds.
The eligibility criteria will not be met when:
🔷Either parent has an income of more than £100,000
🔷Either parent is a non-EEA national and subject to immigration control (and has no recourse to public funds)