Preschool Funding Information

Tax-Free Childcare and the 30 Hours Funded Childcare schemes are separate government initiatives which can be used together to help families manage childcare costs.

Tax-Free Childcare supports working parents by covering 20% of childcare costs through government contributions. Families can receive up to £2,000 per child annually, or £4,000 per year for children with disabilities. The 30 Hours Free Childcare scheme offers a set number of ‘free’ childcare hours.

By combining these two schemes, families can maximise their savings while ensuring access to quality childcare.

Find out if you’re eligible for tax free childcare.

All 3 and 4-year-olds who live in England are entitled to this offer irrespective of income, benefit status, or family circumstances.

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get up to 570 funded hours per year from the term after your child turns 3 years old through to starting school, to be taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

If you live and work in England you may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare support from the term after your child turns 9 months old, until they start school. To qualify, over the next 3 months you must each expect to earn at least:

• £2,643.68 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £203.36 per week)
• £2,256.80 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £173.60 per week)
• £1,664 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £128 per week)

Please see the government website for more detailed information.

You’ll need to add your younger child to your HMRC account and apply for a new code for them separately.

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, or if you’re receiving maternity pay and planning to return to work. Apply and check your eligibility at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Yes! Many of our families use a combination of funded and paid hours.Please take a look at our ‘Chargeable Extras’ page for more information about the cost of additional hours.

Yes! You must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months through your HMRC Childcare Account. Set a reminder so you don’t lose your funded hours. You will be charged for your child’s place if you do , not reconfirm in time.

Unlike many private nurseries, we don’t charge for consumables such as nappies, however there is a cost if you would like to book a hot dinner through our school caterers, or take up additional hours in the school wrap-around care. Please take look at our ‘Chargeable Extras’ page for more information.

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria. Whilst you cannot claim Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare at the same time, those on Universal Credit will still be able to claim the working parents entitlement, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. 

This will not affect your ability to claim Universal Credit. If you are taking up additional childcare (on top of your 30 hours entitlement), you can claim Universal Credit Childcare, which can support you with up to 85% of the cost of additional childcare you pay for outside your entitlement to 30 hours. Please see the Universal Credit childcare costs page for more information.

Alternatively, there is a separate entitlement which means that parents of 2-year-olds who are already receiving some additional forms of support, such as Universal Credit, can receive Early Learning for 2 year olds. This is separate from the entitlement for working parents. 

All parents regardless of employment status, family circumstances, or income levels are eligible for the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds from the term after they turn 3.

Yes you can. Please contact vouchers@innovatemat.org for assistance.

This form gives us permission to claim funding on your behalf from the local authority. Without it, we can’t process your claim. Late submissions could result in missed funding.