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Funded hours checker

Calculator · England

In England, working parents can get 30 funded hours a week from 9 months old, every 3 and 4-year-old gets 15 hours, and some 2-year-olds get 15 hours if the family gets certain benefits. Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit can help with the rest. Answer a few questions to see which apply to you and from when.

Your details

Adds links to nurseries near you that offer each scheme

Example: working couple, child born 14 April 2026

  • Free Childcare for Working Parents

    Not yet

    from 1 April 2027 · 30 hours a week, 38 weeks a year

    Your child turns 9 months on 14 January 2027, so hours start from 1 April 2027. Apply from 22 September 2026 and by 31 March 2027.

  • 15 hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds

    Not yet

    from 1 September 2029 · 15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year

    Every 3 and 4-year-old in England, whatever your income, from the term after their 3rd birthday (1 September 2029).

    As a working family these 15 hours are part of your 30, not on top.

  • 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds (Early Learning for 2 year olds)

    Not eligible

    15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year

    For families on certain benefits (Universal Credit with take-home pay of £15,400 a year or less, not counting benefits, and some others) or children with an EHC plan, Disability Living Allowance, or who are or were in care.

  • Tax-Free Childcare

    You qualify

    20% top-up, up to £500 every 3 months

    Usable alongside funded hours, for fees above them and for extras the nursery supplies. Your nursery must be signed up.

  • Universal Credit childcare costs

    Not eligible

    up to 85% of childcare costs

    Only if you claim Universal Credit. If your income is low, a benefits calculator will tell you whether you could.

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Next steps

Assumptions

  • You live in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different schemes, which this checker does not cover yet.
  • HMRC and your council make the decision; this checker explains the published rules. Some groups not listed here (for example foster carers, some carers and newly self-employed parents) have their own rules on gov.uk.
  • Working-parent codes must be reconfirmed every 3 months.

Questions parents ask

Can I get 30 hours if only one of us works?

Usually not: in a couple both parents need to be working (or on leave) and each earning at least the minimum-wage equivalent of 16 hours a week. There are exceptions if the non-working partner is a carer or gets certain disability or incapacity benefits.

What is adjusted net income?

Your taxable income minus things like pension contributions and Gift Aid donations. If either parent expects it to be over £100,000 this tax year you cannot get the working-parent hours or Tax-Free Childcare. Paying more into a pension can bring it below the limit.

Do the universal 15 hours depend on income?

No. Every 3 and 4-year-old in England can get 570 funded hours a year from the term after their 3rd birthday, whatever the parents earn. Working families get them as part of their 30 hours.

Can I get Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit?

Not at the same time. Compare which helps you more first, and wait for a Tax-Free Childcare decision before you end a Universal Credit claim.

Sources

By The Toddly editorial team · Rules checked 11 November 2026

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