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15/30 funded hours calculator

From the term after your child turns 3, everyone is eligible for 15 funded hours of childcare (often referred to as 15 free hours childcare) per term time week. If you meet working requirements, this is enhanced to 30 funded hours (30 free hours childcare) per term time week. This equates to 38 weeks per year, though many childcare providers will offer to "stretch" your 15 or 30 hours to 50 or 52 hours a year, giving you more like 11 or 22 hours per week respectively.

From September 2025, those 30 hours will be extended down to children over 9 months old, but only for families meeting the earning requirements. The 15 hours available to all families will remain at 3 years plus.

From April 2024 until September 2025, we are in the transition period with children born between 1st April 2021 and 31st August 2024 all in the transition period; those for whom this calculator will be particularly helpful.

If you're not sure if you meet the earning requirements, head over to our tax free childcare calculator to check. The requirements for tax free childcare and enhanced funded hours are the same.

This free hours calculator also informs you of the date that your child is due to start school; the earliest date, that in practice most people do, as well as the date where compulsory school age applies to them, for those that want to delay school.

More Information

These hours may not feel free!

The government gives a certain amount per hour, per child (taking their age into account) to councils who then transfer the money to the childcare providers. It may be that your childcare provider charges more per hour than the funding gives them. In many cases, childcare providers then charge extra for accessing the funding, or increase lunch charges, or have low flexbility when it comes to how you can access the funded hours. While we'd love to create a calculator showing how much you could save when your child becomes eligible for funded hours, it simply isn't possible due to every childcare provider adopting a different method.

What do I do next?

Head over to the government's website to start your application. If your child's birthday is between;

1 September to 31 December: The hours start on the term starting on or after 1 January and you should apply between 15 October to 30 November

1 January to 31 March: The hours start on the term starting on starting on or after 1 April and you should apply between 15 January to 28 February

1 April to 31 August: The hours start on the term starting on or after 1 September and you should apply between 15 June to 31 July

If you or your partner earns over £100k per year...

you need to check what the resultant adjusted net income is. If the adjusted net income is over £100k per year, you will loose access to the additional funded hours and the only hours available to you will be the 15 free hours for all 3 year olds plus (starting the term after they turn three).

Not sure if you're eligible?

Check out our Milk&Money check up calculator. Pop your details in and it will give you an estimate for your eligibility for funded hours, tax free childcare and child benefit.

What is compulsory school age?

Most children will start school full-time in the September after their fourth birthday, but they won't reach compulsory school age until the term after their fifth birthday. In practice, few wait until compulsory school age, and you'll have to apply to for a school place at the same time as everyone else. If you have a Summer born child and you wait until the Sept after they turn 5, your child will miss reception year and go straight into year 1. Read more on the government website.