Overview
- Applications must be submitted by December 31 to secure support from the start of 2026 for children who turn nine months between September 1 and December 31, with hours only usable once a child reaches nine months.
- The scheme offers up to 30 hours a week for children aged nine months to four years, worth up to £7,500 per year per child depending on usage and fees.
- Eligibility requires being in paid work or due to start, including single parents, with minimum three‑month earnings of £2,539.68 for ages 21+, £2,080 for ages 18–20, and £1,570.40 for under‑18s or apprentices.
- Applicants provide National Insurance details and, if self‑employed, a UTR, then receive an 11‑digit code and must reconfirm eligibility every three months through their childcare account.
- Support applies to registered nurseries, schools and playschemes; households over the £100,000 adjusted net income cap or where the child does not usually live with the applicant are ineligible, foster carers apply via local authorities, and parents of children reaching nine months between January and March have until March 31 to apply.