Free childcare in Redbridge
Council links and deadlines for funded hours in Redbridge, 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. This link goes to the council's application. Apply
- All 3 and 4-year-olds (15 hours)
- No application to the council: speak to your chosen provider.
Deadlines for working-parent codes
| Spring term (starts 1 January) | Code by 31 December |
|---|---|
| Summer term (starts 1 April) | Code by 31 March |
| Autumn term (starts 1 September) | Code by 31 August |
Redbridge FiND (Family Services Directory)
Redbridge publishes separate entitlement guidance for under-2s, 2 year olds and 3 and 4 year olds, and a vacancy list for Autumn 2026 and Spring 2027.
Checked against the council website on 22 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for free childcare in Redbridge?
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 Redbridge council. Redbridge council explains its own process on its website.
Which settings in Redbridge offer funded places?
Many of the 172 settings we list in Redbridge offer funded hours, but not all, and some limit the number of funded places. Ask each setting directly.