Working parent entitlement (9 months to 4 years)
From September 2024 children of working parents could be eligible for up to 30 hours funded early learning a week during term time.
If you are eligible, the number of hours your child can get depends on their age.
- nine months to two year olds can get 15 hours a week during term time
- three and four year olds can get 30 hours a week during term time
With the working parent entitlement, the funding starts the term after a child reaches the qualifying age. For example, if your child was born in November, they would be 9 months old in the following August. This means their funded place would start from the September (autumn term).
Eligibility
You and your partner (if you have one) could be eligible if you are
- in work or starting a new job
- on sick leave or annual leave
- on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
If you are on leave from work or about to start a new job the date you start or return to work will affect when you can get your funded hours from.
You and your partner (if you have one) must both expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours per week at national minimum wage, but not more than £100,000 per year individually.
The government’s webpage, check you're eligible for free childcare if you're working, lists the expected income to qualify.
If you are a two-parent household and only one of you works, you may still qualify, if one of you receives any of the following benefits.
- Carers Allowance
- Contribution based Employment and Support Allowance
- Incapacity benefit
- Limited Capability for Work Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
How and when to apply
To apply for the working parent entitlement please visit the childcare choices website. If you do not have internet access you can apply by calling the childcare service helpline on 0300 123 4097.
If you are a foster parent to the child, you may also be eligible if you are also working for at least one hour of paid work each week outside of your fostering services. You can apply through Luton Family Information Service
We recommend applying at least a month before your funded place would start to ensure there is time for queries to be resolved.
If you are eligible, you will be given an 11 digit code to give to your childcare provider. Once they have validated your code they can arrange a start date for your child.
You must reconfirm your code on a regular basis, and you will be sent email reminders to do this. If you do not keep your code up to date you could lose the funding.
Funded early learning hours can be used at participating:
- local authority schools (including nurseries, infant, and primary schools)
- nurseries, pre-schools, and day care providers
- childminders
If you need help finding a childcare provider or are not sure who you can contact, please go to visit the Luton Family Information Service webpage or contact the team on telephone number 01582 548888 or email [email protected]
Providers offer a range of options; just ask your chosen provider for theirs. Offers include:
- up to 30 hours a week in term time
- ‘stretched’ over up to 52 weeks a year with less hours each week
- between 6am to 8pm but not longer than 10 hours
The working parent entitlement does not cover:
- the costs of snacks or meals, though your child may be eligible for free school meals
- consumables, such as nappies or sun cream
- additional hours
- additional activities such as trips
Providers may charge a fee for these additions. If you choose to pay for these it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider.
However, you must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a funded early learning place; and must be offered alternative options. Ask your chosen provider for their fees.
- you don’t have to use the full 30 hours, just what you need
- the hours can be split by up to two providers a day, just get the code checked and let both providers know
Links to other useful information
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Free school meals
- Family Information Service
- Flying Start
- Starting school at 5
- Time for 2s –Two-year-old funded places for families on certain benefits
- Uniform exchange (Luton Point)
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