About free childcare

Free childcare is also known as the ‘free entitlement’, ‘free places’ or ‘free hours’. It refers to:

  • government funded childcare and education for the most disadvantaged 2 year olds
  • 15 hours free childcare for parents of 3 and 4 year olds (universal entitlement)
  • 30 hours free childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds (extended entitlement)

Free places for 2 year olds

Two year olds who live in households which meet eligibility criteria qualify for up to 15 hours of free childcare over a minimum of 38 weeks a year (up to 570 hours a year). This is from the term after their second birthday.

Find out more about free places for 2 year olds

15 hours universal entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of free childcare over a minimum of 38 weeks a year (up to 570 hours a year). This is from the term after their third birthday.

Find out more about universal entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds

30 hours extended entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds

Working families of 3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for an extra 15 hours of free childcare. This makes a total of 30 hours of free childcare over a minimum of 38 weeks a year (up to 1,140 hours a year).

Find out more about extended entitlement for 3 and 4 years old

Contact information

Family Information Service