What age does 30 hours free childcare start and end?

The 30 hours entitlement for working parents runs from when your child is 9 months old up to when they start school (the term after their 4th birthday). It was fully rolled out from 1 September 2025, so from that date eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years can claim the full 30 hours.

What is the difference between 15 and 30 hours free childcare?

All 3 and 4 year olds get a universal 15 hours a week (570 hours a year) regardless of income. Working parents can get a further 15 hours on top — a total of 30 hours — and, since the expansion, working parents of children aged 9 months and 2 years also qualify for funded hours. The extra hours are income-tested; the universal 15 hours are not.

Can I combine 30 hours with Tax-Free Childcare?

Yes. The funded 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare can be used together — the funded hours cover part of your week, and Tax-Free Childcare (a 20% government top-up, up to £2,000 per child a year) can help with extra hours, meals and other registered costs the funded hours do not cover. You cannot combine it with the Universal Credit childcare element for the same child.

Does 30 hours free childcare cover the whole cost?

Not always. The government funds the childcare hours, but providers can still charge for meals, nappies, trips and any hours beyond the funded 30. Because those extra charges are set by each provider (not published under the Open Government Licence), this page does not quote an average price — check your provider's fees, then use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit to help with what is left.

GeraJobs / Childcare costs / 30 hours free childcare

30 hours free childcare: who qualifies and how it works

30 hours free childcare is the working-parent entitlement in England. Eligible parents of a child aged 9 months up to school age get 1140 funded hours a year — the universal 15 hours plus an extra 15 hours. This page shows the published 2026 scheme year (England) rules; every figure is official.

Who gets 30 hours free childcare in England and how does it work?

Working parents of a child aged 9 months up to school age can get 30 hours a week of funded childcare during term time — 1140 funded hours a year over 38 weeks, which can be "stretched" over more weeks at fewer hours. The 30 hours is the universal 15 hours plus an extra 15 hours for working parents. Each parent must usually earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum/Living Wage and neither can expect to earn over £100,000 a year. Source: GOV.UK.

Source:GOV.UK — Help paying for childcare (HM Government / DfE / HMRC / DWP)·As of 2026 scheme year (England) · updated annually (each scheme / tax year) · last refreshed 25 June 2026

Funded hours

30h

a week, term time

Over the year

1140h

a year over 38 weeks

Age range

9 mths–4 yrs

up to when they start school

How the 30 hours is made up

The headline 30 hours is two entitlements added together. Every 3 and 4 year old gets a universal 15 hours with no income test. Working parents can get a further 15 hours on top — and since the full roll-out from 1 September 2025, working parents of children as young as 9 months also qualify for funded hours.

Part	Hours/week	Income tested?
Universal (all 3–4 year olds)	15	No
Extra for working parents	+15	Yes
Total (working parents)	30	—

30 hours is funded for 38 term-time weeks (1140 hours a year). Many providers let you “stretch” this over more weeks at fewer hours (around 21 hours a week across all 52 weeks) so you have cover in the holidays. Source: GOV.UK — Help paying for childcare (HM Government / DfE / HMRC / DWP).

Who is eligible for 30 hours free childcare

For working parents of children aged 9 months up to school age (fully rolled out from 1 September 2025). Each parent must usually earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum/Living Wage and neither parent can have an expected adjusted net income over £100,000. 30 hours a week for 38 weeks (can be stretched over more weeks at fewer hours).

Child aged 9 months up to school age (the term after their 4th birthday).
Each parent usually earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum/Living Wage.
Neither parent expecting an adjusted net income over £100,000 a year.

England, 2026 scheme year (expanded entitlement fully rolled out from 1 September 2025). Check your eligibility and apply at gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare.

What the funded hours do not cover

The government funds the childcare hours, but providers can still charge for meals, nappies, trips and any hours beyond the funded 30. You can put Tax-Free Childcare — a 20% government top-up, up to £2,000 per child a year — towards those extras, or use the Universal Credit childcare element (85% of costs) if you are on Universal Credit. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element for the same child at the same time.

30 hours free childcare — FAQ

What age does 30 hours free childcare start and end?: The 30 hours entitlement for working parents runs from when your child is 9 months old up to when they start school (the term after their 4th birthday). It was fully rolled out from 1 September 2025, so from that date eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years can claim the full 30 hours.
How many hours a year is 30 hours free childcare?: 30 hours a week is funded for 38 term-time weeks a year, which is 1140 funded hours a year. Many providers let you "stretch" this over more weeks at fewer hours a week (for example around 21 hours a week across all 52 weeks) so you have cover in the school holidays.
Who is eligible for the 30 hours?: For working parents of children aged 9 months up to school age (fully rolled out from 1 September 2025). Each parent must usually earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum/Living Wage and neither parent can have an expected adjusted net income over £100,000. 30 hours a week for 38 weeks (can be stretched over more weeks at fewer hours).
What is the difference between 15 and 30 hours free childcare?: All 3 and 4 year olds get a universal 15 hours a week (570 hours a year) regardless of income. Working parents can get a further 15 hours on top — a total of 30 hours — and, since the expansion, working parents of children aged 9 months and 2 years also qualify for funded hours. The extra hours are income-tested; the universal 15 hours are not.
Can I combine 30 hours with Tax-Free Childcare?: Yes. The funded 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare can be used together — the funded hours cover part of your week, and Tax-Free Childcare (a 20% government top-up, up to £2,000 per child a year) can help with extra hours, meals and other registered costs the funded hours do not cover. You cannot combine it with the Universal Credit childcare element for the same child.
Does 30 hours free childcare cover the whole cost?: Not always. The government funds the childcare hours, but providers can still charge for meals, nappies, trips and any hours beyond the funded 30. Because those extra charges are set by each provider (not published under the Open Government Licence), this page does not quote an average price — check your provider's fees, then use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit to help with what is left.

Related on GeraJobs

15 hours free childcare — the universal entitlement for 3–4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds.
Universal Credit childcare costs — claim back up to 85% of registered childcare.
All UK childcare costs help — free hours, Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit in one place.

2026 scheme year (England). England only — childcare is devolved, so Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run different free-hours schemes. Source: gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare and GOV.UK — Help paying for childcare (HM Government / DfE / HMRC / DWP). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). GeraJobs presents these published figures — no figure is modelled or invented. For your eligibility and to apply, use gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs.