Free childcare in City of London
Council links and deadlines for funded hours in City of London, checked against the council’s own website.
- Working parents (from 9 months)
- Apply on GOV.UK for an 11-digit code and give it to your provider; re-confirm every 3 months. Apply on GOV.UK
- 2-year-olds with extra support
- Apply through the council. The council page explains who to contact; no separate online form was found. Apply
- All 3 and 4-year-olds (15 hours)
- No application to the council: speak to your chosen provider.
City of London Family Information Service
The Corporation's Family Information Service page covers all funded offers, says parents apply to HMRC (not the council) for working-parent hours, and describes a separate Childcare Accessibility Scheme for resident families. Some wording on the page predates 2025; check GOV.UK for current rules.
Checked against the council website on 22 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for free childcare in City of London?
Funded hours for working parents are applied for through the government’s Childcare Service, which gives you a code to take to your provider. The universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds needs no code: ask your provider. Your provider then claims the funding from City of London council. City of London council explains its own process on its website.
Which settings in City of London offer funded places?
Many of the 10 settings we list in City of London offer funded hours, but not all, and some limit the number of funded places. Ask each setting directly.