Free childcare and help paying for childcare

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Overview

If your child is 9 months, 2, 3 or 4 years old, you may be eligible for free early education and childcare. The number of hours you get will depend on the age of your child and your circumstances. You can use your free early education hours for nurseries or registered childminders. 

These childcare offers do not cover the costs of meals, other consumables (e.g., nappies), additional hours or extra activities (e.g., trips). You are not required to choose these extras, but you may be charged if you opt for them.  

Upcoming changes to free early education and childcare

How much free childcare you’re entitled to is changing

Starting September 2024, the government is set to significantly expand childcare funding. Eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years will be entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare support. This initiative aims to ease the transition back to work for parents, ensuring your child receives quality care during these early, formative years. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.

The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families.

This means that from: 

Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.

The childcare choices website has more information and you can sign up to get more details about the current expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs.

Parents can check their eligibility before applying at gov.uk or through our online eligibility checker tool at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

For eligible working families it’s important to remember that once you have applied and received your 11 digit code – you will need to reconfirm your code every three months.  Parents who apply before 1 June will need to make sure they renew their code before the offer starting in September.

You can claim your place the term after your child turns the relevant age. This gives local authorities and childcare providers enough time to prepare.

How to claim 2-year-old funding – 2024/2025

Following the government expansion of childcare support from April 2024 onwards, there are now two different types of 2-year-old childcare support a parent/carer may be eligible to receive for their child. These are 2 year-old working family childcare support and 2 year-old family in receipt of additional government benefit support (disadvantaged).


What’s the difference between the two types of funding?


The main differences are shown below. Both types of funding are claimed for up to 15 hours per week, for 38 weeks per year. 

2 year-old Working Family Childcare Support 2 year-old Benefits (Disadvantaged funding)

Claimed by working families/carers meeting certain income requirements. Eligibility criteria can be found: Childcare Choices 

Claimed by families in receipt of certain income related benefits, children receiving Disability Living Allowance or children with looked after status.
Eligibility criteria can be found: Free Entitlement to Early Education for two, three and four year olds | Barnet - WWC

Parents apply to HMRC online using the Childcare Choices link.

Parents apply
Synergy - Enquiry (barnet.gov.uk)

If eligible, a parent will receive an
11-digit code from HMRC.

If eligible, a parent will receive a letter from Barnet council.

Must be re-confirmed by the parent every three months with HMRC, to continue accessing 2 year-old Working Family childcare support until the term after a child’s 3rd birthday.

Does not need to be re-confirmed. Once a letter is received, the child remains eligible for 2 year-old benefits childcare in receipt of additional government benefit support (Disadvantaged) until the term after their 3rd birthday.

Parent must apply and have received their code on or before 31 March, 31 August, or 31 December to claim funding from 1 April, 1 September, or 1 January respectively.

There is no application cut off. From the date parent/carer apply and are found eligible.

Any queries regarding applying or eligibility must be made to
HMRC on 0300 123 4097.

Any queries regarding applying or eligibility must be made to our Early Years Team 020 85395 302 earlyyears@barnet.gov.uk

 

2-year-olds that qualify can start their free place at the beginning of the school term following their second birthday.

A child born between: Is eligible from:

1 January - 31 March

1 April - Summer Term

 1 April - 31 August

1 September - Autumn Term

1 September - 31 December

1 January - Spring Term

Please note, some families may be eligible for both the working entitlement and the 15 hours for families receiving support. You can not take up both offers and should apply for the 15 hours for families receiving support.

Apply for childcare support for 2 year olds in receipt of benefits 

Apply for working family childcare support

Search for childcare providers offering free childcare for 2 year olds 

 

Childcare support for 3 and 4 year-olds 

The current 3 and 4 year-old offer

All 3 and 4 year-olds are currently entitled to 15 hours of free early education for 38 weeks a year.

You can take these 15 hours as flexibly as your childcare provider can offer. Some providers can extend the hours over 52 weeks using fewer hours each week.

3 year-olds can start their free place at the beginning of the term following their third birthday.

Please apply directly to the childcare provider.

Search for childcare providers offering free childcare for 3- and 4-year-olds here 

You may also be eligible for 30 hours free childcare if you or your partner expect to earn at least £167 per week on average (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage), you may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare. Check if you’re eligible.

Tax free childcare

If you, or your partner are over 16 and each expect to earn an average of £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) over three months, you could be eligible for tax-free childcare. 

If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible. 

Please note, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.

For more information on tax-free childcare, visit the Childcare Choices Website

Check if you can get tax-free childcare 
 

Universal Credit for childcare

If you or your partner are working or you’re due to start work and are claiming Universal Credit you could be eligible for Universal Credit for childcare. 

For more information on Universal Credit for childcare, visit the Childcare Choices Website.

Choosing childcare and early education

Overview

Choosing childcare and early education is a significant step for the entire family. It’s important to ensure that the type of childcare you select meets both your needs and your child’s needs. You also want to be confident that your child will be safe, secure, well cared for, and happy.

You can choose to use one or more childcare providers. 

Here are some childcare options you could consider:

Nurseries

Nurseries offer early education and childcare to children under five. All nurseries must be registered and inspected by OFSTED.  

Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Nurseries:

  • PVIs usually offer full time or part time places. 
  • Settings may be term time (38 weeks) or all year around (51-52 weeks). 
  • Hours available may differ from setting to setting. 
  • The majority will offer funded early years education. 
  • In addition, you may be able to access extra hours to suit your needs. 
  • From September 2024, working parents with babies starting from 9 months old will be eligible for 15 hours of childcare funding. (Specific details beyond this announcement are yet to be disclosed).
  • Provision is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). 

School Nurseries:

  • School nurseries provide early education to children from 3 years-old until they start reception. Some of Barnet school nurseries also provide early years education for
    2 year-olds. 
  • Typically, these sessions are three hours a day (or six hours if your child is entitled to 30 hours of free childcare) and only take place during the school term. 
  • If you require additional hours, you may wish to use a combination of a nursery and a childminder.  
  • Provision is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage. 
  • Just because your child attends the nursery, this doesn’t mean they will automatically get a place at the school. 

Find a nursery near you 

Childminders

  • If you want flexible, home-based childcare, a registered childminder may be the best option for you.  
  • Childminders care for small groups of children in their own home and can offer flexibility in the hours they work. 
  • Like nurseries, they must be registered and inspected by OFSTED and receive relevant training.  
  • All provision follows the Early years Foundation Stage. This is the statutory curriculum for children from 0-5 years.
  • Childminders may also be able to pick-up and drop-off your child from nursery or school. 
  • You may consider childminders to provide wraparound childcare for before and after school. 


Find a childminder near you

Tips for choosing childcare:

  1. Visit a selection of childcare providers to give you an idea of what will suit you and your child.

  2. Take your child with you to see how they would fit in.

  3. Ask to see an Ofsted registration certificate and a recent inspection report.


Points to think about during your visit:

  • are the children settled, safe and happy?

  • do children play and talk together?

  • are staff listening to children and answering them carefully?

  • are the staff friendly and enjoying their work?

  • are the staff joining in with what the children are doing?

  • are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play?

  • are the premises clean, well-kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will children go to parks and other places regularly)?

  • do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?