SEND support in early years

Funding and financial support for early years

You may be able to get help with childcare costs through funded childcare and early education schemes.

Funded early education and childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year olds can access up to 570 hours of funded early education and childcare each year. This is often known as the Universal Entitlement and is usually taken as up to 15 hours a week across 38 weeks of the year.

Parents and carers must pay for any childcare hours above their funded entitlement.

Eligible working parents may be able to receive additional funded childcare hours, often known as 30 hours childcare.

You can find more information about funded early education and childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

When funded childcare starts

Children become eligible from the first full funding period after their third birthday.

Funding periods run from:

• 1 September to 31 December
• 1 January to 31 March
• 1 April to 31 August

Applying for funded childcare

Speak to your chosen childcare provider to access your funded childcare place.

Providers may ask for voluntary contributions towards meals, trips or other consumables. Make sure you understand any additional charges before accepting a place.

Where funded childcare can be used

Funded childcare can be used with an Ofsted-registered provider that meets the required standards.

This may include:

• private day nurseries
• pre-school playgroups
• maintained nursery schools
• childminders, including those registered with a childminding agency
• out-of-school childcare providers
• independent schools

Additional funded childcare for eligible working parents

Eligible working parents may be able to claim up to 15 additional funded hours on top of the Universal Entitlement.

When to apply

You must apply for and receive an eligibility code from HMRC before the start of the funding period in which your child becomes eligible.

The eligibility code must be issued before the end of the previous funding period. Codes issued after the deadline cannot be used until the next full funding period.

Funded early education for children aged 9 months to 2 years

Funded childcare may be available for eligible children from the age of 9 months. This support can help families with childcare costs while giving children access to early learning and development opportunities.

15 hours funded childcare for eligible 2 year olds

Some 2 year olds can receive up to 15 hours of funded childcare if their family meets the eligibility criteria.

Children who are looked after by the local authority are automatically eligible.

Check eligibility and apply

You can check the childcare support eligibility criteria on GOV.UK.

Eligible children can access funded childcare from the first full funding period after their second birthday.

Funding periods run from:

• 1 September to 31 December
• 1 January to 31 March
• 1 April to 31 August

Last updated 15 October 2026