NEW 9 to 23-month-old funding for working families from September 2025

A child will be entitled to the 30 hours from the term after both of the following conditions are satisfied:

When child turns the relevant age (9 months, 2, 3 or 4 years)	When they can get their hours from
1 January to 31 March	Summer Term starting on or after 1 April
1 April to 31 August	Autumn Term starting on or after 1 September
1 September to 31 December	Spring Term starting on or after 1 January

AND

The parents have applied before the deadline date, have a valid eligibility code and the code has a start date on or before:

31^st August for the Autumn term

31^st December for the Spring term

31^st March for the Summer term

It is important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months. Parents who apply early for their codes, must ensure they are valid on the dates listed above.

A child will be entitled to the 30 hours from the term after both of the following conditions are satisfied:

When child turns the relevant age (9 months, 2, 3 or 4 years)	When they can get their hours from
1 January to 31 March	Summer Term starting on or after 1 April
1 April to 31 August	Autumn Term starting on or after 1 September
1 September to 31 December	Spring Term starting on or after 1 January

AND

The parents have applied before the deadline date, have a valid eligibility code and the code has a start date on or before:

31^st August for the Autumn term

31^st December for the Spring term

31^st March for the Summer term

It is important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months. Parents who apply early for their codes, must ensure they are valid on the dates listed above.

You, and any partner living at the same address, must each expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage.

If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity, or adoption leave, or you’re unable to work because you are disabled or having caring responsibilities, you may still be eligible.

You cannot get funded childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn over £100,000 adjusted net income per year (corresponds with income task thresholds).

You, and any partner living at the same address, must each expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage.

If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity, or adoption leave, or you’re unable to work because you are disabled or having caring responsibilities, you may still be eligible.

You cannot get funded childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn over £100,000 adjusted net income per year (corresponds with income task thresholds).

Participating childcare providers in Gloucestershire must sign our Local Provider Agreement to confirm they are offering the funded childcare places, and they must be DfE approved childcare. Types of providers include:

Full day care (e.g. nurseries)
Childminders
Sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
Children’s Centres
Schools (Early Years provision only)
After School Clubs (Early Years provision only)

Participating childcare providers in Gloucestershire must sign our Local Provider Agreement to confirm they are offering the funded childcare places, and they must be DfE approved childcare. Types of providers include:

Full day care (e.g. nurseries)
Childminders
Sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
Children’s Centres
Schools (Early Years provision only)
After School Clubs (Early Years provision only)

Your funded entitlement is based on 30 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. However, there are some providers who will allow you to ‘stretch’ your hours over the year, using fewer hours per week, up to your maximum entitlement of 1,140 hours. Please discuss with your childcare provider whether you can use your hours flexibly, outside of the 38-term time only weeks.

Funded childcare is not intended to cover the cost of meals and snacks, consumables, additional private hours or extra optional activities. Providers can charge a fee for these extra services by they must be voluntary for parents. Please review your providers Terms and Conditions before accepting a funded placement at their setting.