15 vs 30 hours funding — a parent's plain-English guide

The headlines say "30 hours free childcare" but the reality is more nuanced. Here's what every parent in England needs to know — written without the jargon.

The 15-hour offer (universal)

This is the easy one.

Who: All children aged 3 and 4, regardless of how much you earn or whether you work.
From when: The term after their third birthday. So a child who turns 3 in May gets it from September.
What you get: 15 hours per week, 38 weeks per year (basically term-time).

You don't apply for this through a government website. You just choose a setting (like ours), tell them your child is eligible, and it's applied to your bill.

The 15-hour offer (working families, younger children)

This one is means-tested.

Who: Parents of 2-year-olds who receive certain benefits (e.g. Universal Credit and earning under £15,400), or whose child has an EHC plan, or who is looked after by the local authority.
What you get: 15 hours per week, 38 weeks per year.

The 30-hour offer (working parents)

This is the one that's grown a lot in the last few years.

Who: Working parents earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours/week at National Minimum Wage, and earning less than £100,000 each (adjusted net income).
From when: The term after the child turns 9 months old, until they start school.
What you get: 30 hours per week, 38 weeks per year.

If you're a couple, both of you usually need to meet the earnings threshold. If you're a single parent, just you.

What "38 weeks" actually means

The funding covers term-time only. Many parents need year-round care, so settings (including us) "stretch" the hours across more weeks at fewer hours per week. For example: 30 stretched hours becomes around 22 hours per week across 51 weeks. We'll talk you through the maths.

How to apply

For the 30-hour offer, you apply through your government childcare account at gov.uk/childcare-account. You get a code, share it with us, and we claim through Islington Council on your behalf.

You need to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months. The government emails you when it's time, but we also send a reminder.

A quick decision tree

Child under 9 months → no funded hours yet (sorry).
Child 9 months – 2 → 30 hours if parents work and earn within the bands.
Child age 2 → 15 hours if you receive certain benefits, or 30 hours if working.
Child age 3 or 4 → at least 15 hours universal, plus 30 hours if working.

What to do next

If you're thinking about a place with us, mention funding at your visit and we'll work out exactly what you're entitled to and what your bill would look like. There's no penalty for asking — and most families are eligible for more than they think.