What Are 30 Hours Free Childcare? (UK 2025/26)

The 30 hours free childcare scheme provides eligible working parents in England with 30 hours of government-funded early education per week, for 38 weeks of the year (1,140 hours total). From September 2025, this was expanded to cover all eligible children from aged 9 months, completing a phased rollout that started in April 2024.

Eligibility

Both parents must be working and each earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage — approximately £10,158 per year for 2025/26. Neither parent's adjusted net income can exceed £100,000. This creates a hard cliff-edge: a family earning £99,999 qualifies for full funded hours, while a family earning £100,001 loses them entirely.

The £100k Cliff-Edge

For parents of under-threes, exceeding £100,000 means losing all funded hours (dropping from 30 to zero). For parents of three and four-year-olds, exceeding the threshold reduces the entitlement from 30 hours to the universal 15 hours available to all families regardless of income.

Analysis from AJ Bell shows that for a family with two children under school age, crossing the £100,000 threshold could cost over £27,000 in combined lost childcare funding and additional tax from a pay rise of just £2,000.

How to Apply

Applications are made through the HMRC Childcare Service on GOV.UK. If eligible, you receive an 11-digit code to give to your childcare provider. You must reconfirm your eligibility every three months.

What "Free" Really Means

The funded hours cover education and basic care. Providers can and often do charge additional fees for meals, nappies, consumables, and activities — so there is usually still a bill.