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Free childcare hours in England: what working families can claim

How England’s funded childcare hours work in practice, including eligibility codes, stretched offers and charges that are not covered by the funded hours.

Last reviewed: 6 July 2026 · UK guidance

In brief

Funded childcare in England depends on the child’s age, household work and income circumstances and the current programme. The headline number of hours is usually based on a set number of weeks and may be stretched across more weeks.

Providers can charge for meals, consumables, extra hours or optional activities, but should explain these clearly. Ask for a written cost illustration before accepting a place.

Check the right offer and code

Use the official childcare account for the child’s age and household circumstances. Apply or reconfirm before the stated term deadline. Give the code to the provider and ask it to confirm validation.

Translate funded hours into the setting’s timetable

Ask whether the setting offers term-time or stretched hours, its session patterns and the start date. A nominal number of hours may not map neatly onto work shifts. Compare the payable hours around the funded block.

Understand additional charges

Request an itemised schedule for meals, nappies, deposits, registration, trips and extra time. Ask which charges are optional and whether parents may provide alternatives. Providers should not present a paid extra as the funded hour itself.

Plan for changing work or income

Reconfirm when prompted and report changes honestly. Check grace periods and other childcare support if eligibility ends. Avoid cancelling an existing Universal Credit childcare arrangement until the interaction is understood.

A funded-place cost request

Use this before signing the provider contract.

Please show how my funded childcare entitlement would be scheduled at your setting, whether it is term-time or stretched, the start date, and every charge for meals, consumables, deposits or extra hours. Please mark which charges are optional and confirm that my eligibility code has been validated.

A practical checklist

  • Apply or reconfirm before the term deadline.
  • Ask how hours fit the actual timetable.
  • Get all extras itemised.
  • Check interactions before changing another childcare scheme.

Check the current information

These are the most relevant official or specialist places to confirm live rules, availability and application details.

Free Childcare for Working Parents — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Tax-Free Childcare — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Universal Credit childcare costs — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Support for families

gov.uk

Open official information

Tax-Free Childcare: how the government top-up works

How Tax-Free Childcare works, what the government top-up covers and how to compare it with Universal Credit or other childcare help.

Read this guide

Universal Credit childcare costs: paying upfront and claiming money back

How Universal Credit childcare reimbursement works, what evidence to keep and what to do when paying upfront creates an impossible gap.

Read this guide

Support with nursery extras, deposits and holiday clubs

How to budget for childcare costs that sit outside funded hours, including deposits, meals, consumables and school-holiday provision.

Read this guide

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