30 hours free childcare in England: 2026 rules for working parents
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Quick answer: Working parents in England can claim 30 hours of funded childcare per week in term time for children from 9 months to school age, if each parent earns at least £196 a week and under £100,000 adjusted net income.
Free childcare hours expanded in stages from 2024 and are now available from 9 months old for eligible working families in England. This is separate from Tax-Free Childcare, which tops up private payments — many families use both. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run different schemes.
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Read the full family & care guide →Quick answer: Free childcare hours 2026 →Primary source: www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare
Who qualifies in 2026
Both parents (or a lone parent) must be in paid work, including self-employment and company directors. You need expected average weekly earnings at least equal to 16 hours at the National Living Wage — about £196 a week in 2026.
If either parent's adjusted net income exceeds £100,000 you lose all free-hours entitlement for that tax year. Pension contributions reduce adjusted net income — see our £100k tax trap guide if you are near the cliff edge.
How to claim and use the hours
Apply online through Childcare Choices on gov.uk. You receive an eligibility code to give to your Ofsted-registered provider. Reconfirm eligibility every three months.
Providers claim funding from the local authority — you do not receive cash. Some nurseries stretch hours across 52 weeks (about 22 hours a week if you take the full annual entitlement evenly).
Combining with Tax-Free Childcare
You can usually use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for hours beyond the free entitlement, or for meals and extras the funded hours do not cover. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare alongside Universal Credit childcare support — pick whichever pays more.
For disabled children, Tax-Free Childcare tops up up to £4,000 a year instead of £2,000. Check our Tax-Free Childcare guide and eligibility checker.
Common questions
What if one parent is on parental leave?
Parental leave counts as 'in work' for eligibility during the leave period, provided the parent will return to employment and normally meets the earnings test.
Do funded hours cover school holidays?
The entitlement is based on 38 term-time weeks. Some providers let you spread hours across 52 weeks; others offer extra paid holiday sessions.
What about Scotland and Wales?
Scotland offers up to 30 hours for eligible 2–4 year-olds with different rules. Wales provides 30 hours of early education for working parents of 3–4 year-olds. Northern Ireland has its own preschool funding — check nidirect.gov.uk.