Funded childcare (9 months to 4 years)

If you're a parent looking for help with childcare costs, here's everything you need to know about the UK’s funded childcare schemes for children aged 9 months to 4 years.

From September 2025, 15 hours for eligible working families will expand to 30 hours, meaning eligible working parents can now apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age.

9 months to 2 years old

15 hours of funded childcare per week (term time only), from September 2024.

Who can apply

  • working parents with a child aged 9 months to 2 years

When to apply

  • you can apply when your child is 23 weeks old
  • funding begins the term after your child turns 9 months old

Funding entitlement start dates

Child's birth date Hours start from When to apply
1 January to 31 March Term starting 1 April The term before April
1 April to 31 August Term starting 1 September The term before September
1 September to 31 December Term starting 1 January The term before January

Apply

  1. Apply online on the GOV.UK website.
  2. Provide your National Insurance number (or UTR if self-employed), child’s UK birth certificate reference number (if available) and details of government benefits (if any).
  3. Receive a code to give to your childcare provider.
  4. Renew the code every three months.

Applying later

If you wish to use your entitlements later than the term after your child turns the relevant age, you can apply closer to the time you wish to start. Provided you still meet the eligibility criteria for that entitlement at that time, you will not lose your ability to apply.

Parental leave

  • if applying for an older child while on maternity, paternity, or adoption leave, you can apply online as usual
  • if applying for the child related to your leave, the date you return to work affects when you can start:
Date returning to work When you can apply from When you can access hours
1 October to 31 January 1 September to 31 December Term starting 1 January
1 February to 30 April 1 January to 31 March Term starting 1 April
1 May to 30 September 1 April to 31 August Term starting 1 September

2-year-olds

15 hours of funded early learning for your 2-year-old if you live in England and meet eligibility criteria.

Who can apply

This support is available if you receive benefits such as:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit (household income £15,400 or less after tax, excluding benefits)
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (£16,190 or less before tax)
  • the Working Tax Credit 4 week run on (payment after stopping eligibility for Working Tax Credit)

And your child:

  • is looked after by a local authority
  • has an education, health, and care (EHC) plan
  • receives Disability Living Allowance
  • has left care under an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order

If you are a non-UK citizen who has a 'no recourse to public funds' visa, you may still be eligible for 2-year-old funding. Your household income must be no more than £26,500 for families with one child, or £30,600 for families with two or more children.

Do not apply online. Email feeequeries@leeds.gov.uk and request a form for 2-year-old funding for no recourse to public funds families.

For full details, visit the Childcare Choices additional support page.

Apply

Check eligibility and apply on the Parent Portal

3 to 4 year olds

15 hours for all

  • all children aged 3 or 4 can get 15 hours of funded childcare per week, starting the term after their third birthday
  • funding is available regardless of the parents’ earnings or immigration status
  • no eligibility code is needed

30 hours for eligible working parents

Who qualifies

Parents who, individually or jointly with a partner, expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week (on average) at the national minimum or living wage and do not earn over £100,000 annually. For detailed eligibility criteria, visit the Childcare choices eligibility page.

Apply

  1. Apply on the GOV.UK website when your child is 2 years and 36 weeks old.
  2. Provide your eligibility code to your childcare provider.
  3. Renew the code every three months.

Starting work or returning from leave

Date of return to work When you can apply from When you can access hours
1 October to 31 January 1 September to 31 December Term starting 1 January
1 February to 30 April 1 January to 31 March Term starting 1 April
1 May to 30 September 1 April to 31 August Term starting 1 September

For applications made more than 31 days before your start date, contact HMRC’s childcare helpline to complete the process.

Funding entitlement start dates

Child's birth date Hours start from When to apply
1 January to 31 March Term starting 1 April The term before April
1 April to 31 August Term starting 1 September The term before September
1 September to 31 December Term starting 1 January The term before January

What the funding covers

Government funding does not cover:

  • meals
  • items such as nappies and reams
  • additional hours
  • additional activities, such as trips

So you might be asked to pay for these things. However, these charges must not be mandatory, or a condition of accessing a funded place and you can speak to your provider about what alternative options they may have.

Tip: Speak to your childcare provider to confirm any additional charges.

Finding a childcare provider

Search for registered childcare providers in Leeds.