Funded Early Education and childcare

If you are working and have a child from the age of 9 months old to three years old, you may be able to receive 15 hours funded early education and childcare over 38 weeks which is 570 hours per year! This increases to 30 hours after your child turn three until they start school.

Check if you qualify on the .GOV Childcare website

To apply and receive an 11 digit eligibility code, complete this form on the .GOV website

Things to remember:

• You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts to allow enough time for the childcare provider to claim the funding from Bradford Council.
• You must renew the eligibility code approximately every three months via HMRC. Reminders will be sent by HMRC.

When to apply and when the hours start

If you have a two year old you may be able to receive 15 hours funded early education and childcare over 38 weeks which is 570 hours per year!

Below is a list of reasons why you may be able to receive this:

Parent/carers receive:

• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• The Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Or if the child:

• has an Education, Health and Care plan
• receives Disability Living Allowance
• is looked after by the local authority
• has left care - a child who has left care under adoption, special guardianship order or child arrangement order

Or if your family:

• have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) and your yearly household income is no higher £26,500 for families with one child or £30,600 for families with two or more children.
• Both parents must have NRPF and cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Check your eligibility now

Not sure about how to use the eligibility checker? Click here for help.

When to apply and when the hours start

All children aged three to four are entitled to 15 hours funded early education and childcare over 38 weeks which is 570 hours per year. It doesn't matter how much you earn or how many hours you work!

Children can access a place the start of the term after their 3^rd birthday. You don't need to apply for funding, just find a childcare provider and they will support you to access your child's place.

See and hear about all the amazing things children experience through funded early education and childcare.