New codes for 15 and 30 hours must be checked with a childcare provider as soon as possible. This is to ensure your code is valid and you can take up your funded place.
If you and your partner (if you have one) are both working, and you have a child aged 9 months or older who hasn't started school yet, you may be eligible for up to 30 hours of childcare a week.
How childcare funding can help you and your child
Funded childcare helps your child learn and get ready for school.
It also lets you return to work, education, or focus on other priorities.
When your child can start
If you're eligible, your child can take up their funded place from the term after they turn 9 months old. See the table below. They can then continue to receive 30 hours until they are old enough to start school, if you remain eligible for it.
Turns 9 months on or between |
Eligible for funding from |
|---|---|
1 April to 31 August |
1 September |
1 September to 31 December |
1 January |
1 January to 31 March |
1 April |
The funding hours explained
If you're eligible, your child can get up to 1,140 hours a year. This is usually taken as 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. 38 weeks closely aligns with school term dates.
The funding is flexible. Some providers offer the 'stretched entitlement'. This lets a child attend fewer hours each week but spread out over more weeks in the year. It includes some holidays.
Your childcare provider will explain how you can use your funded hours.
What is not covered
The funding does not include:
- food
- consumables such as nappies and cream
- extra activities such as trips
Your provider may charge for these, but you can choose to opt out.
Before your child starts, you need to sign a contract with your childcare provider. Ensure that any charges are clear and agreed upon beforehand.
Choosing childcare inside or outside the borough
There are a few things to consider, depending on whether your child lives inside or outside the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F).
If your child lives in H&F
If your child is a H&F resident and you would like a childcare place within the borough, you can use a H&F Ofsted registered nursery, preschool or childminder. Confirm with them if they accept 15 or 30 hours and if they have availability.
If you want a childcare place in another borough, check their availability and the process. Some boroughs and childcare providers may prioritise local families.
If your child lives in another borough
If your child is not a H&F resident, but you want a childcare place in H&F, check with the childcare provider first to confirm if they accept 15 or 30 hours and if they have availability. Please note, we will need to verify your eligibility, even if the other borough has already done so, because H&F will pay for the place.
Eligibility criteria for working parents
You and any partner you live with must each:
- work on average 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage
- earn less than £100,000 each year
You or your partner might still qualify if you are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave. You may also be eligible if you cannot work due to a disability or caring for someone.
See Check you're eligible for free childcare if you're working on GOV.UK
Apply as a working parent
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) manages applications for working parents.
If you're eligible, you will get a code. Give the code to your chosen registered childcare provider as soon as possible.
If your child gets a place in H&F, your childcare provider will inform the H&F early years team to fund the place.
Apply for free childcare if you're working on GOV.UK
If you're a foster carer
You will need to follow a separate application process for a code. Speak to your social worker for more details.
Application deadlines
HMRC sets application deadlines for each term. Apply at least 6 weeks before the new term to avoid any issues with codes.
If you have a 2 year old child, work and receive government support
You may qualify for both schemes:
- 30 hours for working families
- 15 hours for families of 2 year olds receiving government support
However, the maximum you can claim is 30 hours a week.
Recommendation
Apply for both schemes. If you're eligible for both, you will receive two separate codes. Give both to your childcare provider and ask them to use 15 hours from each code. By doing this, even if you lose eligibility for the working parent scheme, you can still get 15 hours under the government support scheme.
Before your child starts their funded place
Make sure you follow the guidance below, to secure your child's funded place before they start.
Ensure any code you have is valid
Ask your childcare provider to confirm any code you have is valid.
You will also need to ensure you renew your code every 3 months on GOV.UK.
Sign the Parental Declaration Form
Your childcare provider will give you a Parental Declaration Form to sign. This allows them to claim the funding from the council.
Please confirm your information is correct and that you understand the conditions, including:
- regular attendance is needed
- informing your childcare provider of any planned holidays and absences.
Your childcare provider will share this information with the council. The council will also check if your provider can get an Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) payment. This payment helps support your child.
See Get extra funding for your early years provider on GOV.UK
The amount of EYPP in H&F is up to £570 for the year 2025/26.
Save more on your childcare costs
If you work, you can use one of these schemes to pay for extra childcare hours or services. You can get this in addition to 15 or 30 hours.
- Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK
- Universal Credit childcare costs on GOV.UK (if you claim Universal Credit)
If you're a student
The government, your school, college, university, or training provider may be able to help you with your childcare costs.
See Help with childcare costs while you study.
Help to identify what you can get and when
Use the Eligibility checker on the Best Start in Life website to find out which childcare schemes you can access now and in the future.
Find childcare to suit you
See our guide to Childcare options for under 5's, which includes information on:
- the different types of childcare providers
- key points before securing childcare
- childcare and funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Contact details
For questions about applying for 30 hours for working parents, eligibility, or HMRC codes, contact the Childcare service helpline on GOV.UK.
For the H&F early years team, email the funding team EarlyYearsFunding@lbhf.gov.uk