The Department for Education (DfE) Childcare Reforms Expansion has been designed to better help parents and carers manage childcare alongside their work responsibilities. These changes are part of the government's ongoing commitment to support families and enable parents to return to or remain in the workforce, while ensuring their children receive the care they need.
Starting September 2024, eligible working parents of nine-month-old children will be able to access funded childcare the term after their child turns nine-months-old. This is part of the National Childcare Reforms Expansion roll out, which aims to provide more support for parents and carers across Essex.
About the funding
Funding is available from the term after your child turns nine-months-old.
| Turns 9 months on or between | Terms for eligible funding |
|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 March | Summer term (April onwards) |
| 1 April to 31 August | Autumn term (September onwards) |
| 1 September to 31 December | Spring term (January onwards) |
While eligible parents and carers will be able to access up to 15 hours of funded childcare, you may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies, trips, or extracurricular activities.
To check your eligibility, please visit the UK government’s dedicated childcare support page.
Apply
To apply you will need your details and your partner's, if you have one. This includes:
- National Insurance Number
- the date you started work or the date you are due to start work (this can be approximate if more than 3 months ago)
- Unique Taxpayer Reference, if you are self employed
You will also need the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) of any children you’re applying for.
Once your application has been approved, you will receive a funded childcare code to give to your chosen provider. This code will be valid for 3 months. After three months you will be need to reconfirm your eligibility.
Using your 15 hours funded childcare
You can use your funded 15 hours:
- over a minimum of 2 days or a maximum of 5 days
- for a maximum of 10 hours a day
- over 38 weeks, or pro-rata over a maximum of 52 weeks per year
- anytime between 6am to 8pm, depending on the sessions offered by your chosen provider
More guidance for parents
Read our guide on Funded Early Education Entitlement for 9-month-olds, 2, 3 and 4 year olds (PDF, 228.66 KB) for more information and advice.
This guide is also available in:
- Arabic (PDF, 301.8 KB)
- Chinese (PDF, 383.03 KB)
- Dari (PDF, 383.89 KB)
- Hindi (PDF, 348.94 KB)
- Pashto (PDF, 380.12 KB)
- Polish (PDF, 229.97 KB)
- Romanian (PDF, 233.72 KB)
- Turkish (PDF, 221.47 KB)
- Ukrainian (PDF,235.27 KB)
- Urdu (PDF, 299.81 KB)
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