30 hours extended entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds

To access 30 hours extended entitlement you must have applied for, and be in receipt of, an eligibility code by the following deadlines:

31 August - funding starting in the autumn term
31 December - funding starting in the spring term
31 March - funding starting in the summer term

Please be aware it can take up to 15 days from date of application for HRMC to issue a code. The validity start date is the date a code is issued and not the date of application.

Please make sure you allow sufficient time when applying to make sure your code is received by the relevant deadlines detailed above.

In addition to the universal entitlement, working parents of 3 and 4 year olds may also be able to benefit from an additional entitlement of up to 15 hours per week over 38 weeks or a total of 570 hours in each 12 month period from the date the child becomes eligible. This is called the extended entitlement or the 30 hours free childcare.

Together the universal and extended entitlements make a total of 1,140 free hours which eligible 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to in a funded year over a minimum of 38 weeks.

These hours can be stretched over more than 38 weeks which will reduce the number of free hours each week. For example:

38 weeks at 30 hours per week
45 weeks at 25 hours 20 minutes per week
50 weeks at 22 hours and 48 minutes per week

This could help cover school holidays for example.

If your child attends more than one childcare provider it is possible that you will have stretched hours with one provider and standard hours with another, as long as the total hours do not exceed 1,140 hours in your child’s eligible funding year.

Will I qualify for the extended entitlement?

The government has set out the criteria that parents of 3 and 4 year olds must meet in order to be eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

View the eligibility criteria

How do I apply for the extended entitlement?

Parents wishing to claim an extended entitlement will make applications directly to HMRC via their website, Childcare Choices.

Childcare providers and the Local Authority cannot assist with this process.

Parents who are unable to access the website or need assistance making an application should contact the HMRC Customer Interaction Centre on 0300 123 4097.

Apply online at Childcare Choices

Parents will be issued with an 11 digit eligibility code if they qualify for the 30 hours free childcare and will need to reconfirm their working status every 3 months to remain eligible. HMRC will send parents reminders by email to do this.

Parents who wish to review or appeal unsuccessful applications for the entitlement should contact HMRC directly.

I am eligible - what happens next?

Parents will need to present their 11 digit eligibility code from the online childcare service to their child’s childcare provider. Parents will also need to provide their National Insurance number and child's date of birth. This should be done by completing the Parent Declaration form which you can get from your provider.

The childcare provider will confirm to the parent whether the code is valid and the start date of the funding using an online portal provided by the Local Authority. The parent and the childcare provider will then agree the child’s hours of attendance.

The provider will claim the funding from the Local Authority who will audit the codes 6 times a year to confirm that parent(s) remain eligible for funding.

I am no longer eligible - what happens next?

If your working status should change, for example you are made redundant; your child can continue to have the additional free hours until you are asked to reconfirm your status by HMRC.

If at the time of reconfirming your status you do not qualify for the extended entitlement, there will be a ‘grace period’ which allows for changes to your working status such as starting another job.

The grace period end date will automatically be applied to eligibility codes and will be determined as per the table below.

Table showing dates of grace periods
Date parent receives ineligible decision on reconfirmation	Local Authority audit date	Grace period end date
1 January to 10 February	11 February	31 March
11 February to 31 March	1 April	31 August
1 April to 26 May	27 May	31 August
27 May to 31 August	1 September	31 December
1 September to 21 October	22 October	31 December
22 October to 31 December	1 January	31 March

The Local Authority will inform childcare providers of children who no longer meet the eligibility criteria and their grace periods. Childcare providers will then talk to parents about any changes to attendance patterns and/or payment options.

Please note that the Local Authority cannot assist with any queries regarding eligibility for the extended entitlement. Parents will need to contact HMRC via their Customer Interaction Centre on 0300 123 4097.

Contact information

Early Help Team

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