Free childcare for babies and toddlers is now part of the same scheme as the 30 hours for older children. From September 2025, eligible working parents in England can claim up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months old, until the child starts school. Before that, the offer was phased in: 15 hours for 2-year-olds from April 2024, and 15 hours from 9 months from September 2024.
This page explains the parts that are specific to babies and children under 2. The full eligibility rules are on 30 hours free childcare.
What you get for a baby
- 30 hours a week for 38 weeks, 1,140 hours a year, from the term after your child turns 9 months old.
- It can be used at a nursery, childminder or other provider on the Ofsted Early Years Register, or a registered school. Not every provider takes babies, and not every provider offers funded places.
- You can stretch the hours across more weeks of the year by using fewer hours each week, if your provider offers it.
Coram’s Childcare Survey 2026 says that, because of the extra funded hours, 25 hours a week for a child under 2 is now effectively free in term time for eligible working families, apart from refundable deposits and optional charges. For families who are not eligible, Coram found an average of £188.75 a week for 25 hours in an English nursery and £238.01 in inner London. See nursery fees in London.
When your child can start
Funded hours begin at the start of a term. Terms start on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September, and your child can start in the term after they turn 9 months.
| Baby turns 9 months between | Funded hours can start from | Deadline for your code |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January and 31 March | 1 April | 31 March |
| 1 April and 31 August | 1 September | 31 August |
| 1 September and 31 December | 1 January | 31 December |
A baby who turns 9 months on 10 February, for example, can start the funded hours in April. A baby who turns 9 months on 2 September has to wait until January.
You can apply for your code once your child is 23 weeks old, which the government site describes as up to 16 weeks before your baby turns 9 months. It recommends applying at least 6 weeks before the deadline, and some providers ask for the code before the deadline. If you miss the deadline you cannot take up the hours until the following term.
If you want to use your entitlement later than the first term you are eligible, you can apply closer to the time you want to start. You will not lose your entitlement as long as you still meet the rules when you apply.
How to apply
Apply online for a childcare account on GOV.UK. If approved you receive an 11-digit code that you give to your provider with your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth. You must re-confirm every 3 months, including before your child has started. There is no council application for this offer. Providers or councils check the code through the government’s eligibility system.
Maternity and parental leave
The rules for parents returning to work from leave are different, because your return date affects when you can start the hours. GOV.UK sets out the dates for parents who are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave and returning to work between particular dates:
| Return-to-work date | You can apply from | Hours start from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October to 31 January | 1 September to 31 December | 1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April | 1 January to 31 March | 1 April |
| 1 May to 30 September | 1 April to 31 August | 1 September |
Statutory Maternity Leave lasts up to 52 weeks. If you are planning to return to work earlier or later than the funded start date, speak to your provider about how the place and the funded hours will line up.
What to check with a nursery
Funded hours do not guarantee a place, and baby places can be limited because of the staffing needed for under-2s. The legal minimum staffing for under-2s is higher than for older children: one member of staff for every three children. See nursery ratios. Ask each setting:
- Do you have a place from the date my funded hours start, and do you take babies now or have a waiting list?
- Which patterns of funded hours do you offer?
- What do you charge for meals, nappies and any extra hours?
- Do you ask for a deposit, and when is it refunded?
More are in questions to ask a nursery.
Questions
Can I get free childcare for a 1-year-old?
Yes, if you are eligible as a working parent. Your child can have 30 hours a week from the term after they turn 9 months. Children under 9 months cannot use the funded hours.
Do I need to apply every term?
No. You apply once for a code, then re-confirm every 3 months in your childcare account so it stays valid. If you stop meeting the rules there is a grace period, and councils should keep funding the place to the end of the current or next funding block.
Is free childcare from 9 months available to everyone?
No. It is for working families who meet the earnings and income rules. Parents who are not eligible can still get Tax-Free Childcare to help pay, and 2-year-olds may qualify for 15 hours through the extra-support route. See free childcare for 2-year-olds.
Does it cover the whole year?
The entitlement is for 38 weeks a year by default. A provider that is open all year can spread the hours over more weeks, which gives you fewer funded hours each week. You pay for holiday weeks if you stay on the standard pattern.
