Understanding nursery funding in the UK can feel overwhelming — especially with different funding options and eligibility rules. If you’re thinking about childcare or nursery places, it’s helpful to understand what 15 free hours childcare and 30 free hours childcare mean and how they can support your family.
At Little Ferns Nursery Wendover, we aim to make childcare funding explained in a clear, straightforward way, so you can plan with confidence.
What are the 15 and 30 free hours childcare schemes?
The UK government offers several funding schemes to help families with early years childcare costs. These schemes are part of the government’s support for working parents and are available through registered providers such as nurseries.
15 Free Hours Childcare
Universal entitlement: Every child aged three and four years old is entitled to 15 free hours childcare per week during term time (equivalent to 570 hours per year).
Some two-year-olds may also qualify for 15 free hours if their family receives certain benefits or support.
You do not need to meet work or income requirements for the universal 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds.
This funding helps cover your child’s core education and care and can be used at a registered nursery such as Little Ferns Nursery Wendover. Little Ferns also allows families to spread these hours across more weeks of the year if needed.
30 Free Hours Childcare
Extended entitlement: Eligible working families can access up to 30 free hours childcare per week for children aged from 9 months up to school age, for up to 38 weeks per year.
This funding is available through the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme and depends on employment and earnings criteria set by the government. Typically, both parents — or the single parent in a lone-parent family — must be working a minimum number of hours and earning below a set income threshold.
The extended entitlement can be a significant support for families balancing work and childcare costs, as it doubles the number of funded hours compared with the universal 15 hours.
How do nursery funding schemes work in practice?
Both the 15 and 30 free hours childcare entitlements are usually offered over 38 weeks per year, which aligns with school term times. At Little Ferns, families may choose to stretch these hours across more weeks by using fewer hours per week, helping to support year-round childcare needs.
It’s important to ask your nursery how funded hours are calculated and allocated. This can affect how you use your entitlement and whether additional charges apply for meals, nappies or extra hours beyond the funded allocation.
You will usually need to:
• Check your eligibility through the government’s online childcare account.
• Apply for your funded childcare code.
• Share this code with your nursery before each term’s deadline.
Our Little Ferns team is always happy to answer questions and help you plan how funded hours work alongside the nursery sessions you choose.
Is this the same as nursery funding across the UK?
Yes — the nursery funding UK framework provides these entitlements to families in England. However, eligibility rules and how hours are offered can vary slightly depending on local council arrangements. It’s always best to check with both your nursery and local authority.
How Little Ferns can help
At Little Ferns Nursery Wendover, we’re committed to helping families understand childcare funding — from working out your 15 or 30 free hours entitlement to planning nursery days that fit with your work and family life.
If you’d like support understanding what funding you’re eligible for or how it applies to your child’s nursery place, please get in touch with our team — we’re here to help.