Funded childcare and help paying for childcare
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Overview
If your child is aged 9 months to 4 years, you may be eligible for funded early education and childcare. The number of hours you get will depend on the age of your child and your circumstances. You can use your funded early education hours at Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Nurseries, School or registered childminders that accept the early years funding.
These childcare offers do not cover the costs of meals, other consumables (e.g., nappies), additional hours or extra activities (e.g., trips). You are not required to choose these extras, but you may be charged if you opt for them. These charges must not be mandatory, or a condition of accessing the funded place.
Early Education and Childcare Support
For eligible working families in England of children aged 9 months to 4 years
In line with the Governments expansion of the early years entitlement, as of September 2025, Eligible working families can apply for 30 hours of childcare to use from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age.
Dependent on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.
For more information, when to register and to receive updates please visit Homepage | Best Start in Life
Parents can check their eligibility before applying at Free Childcare for Working Parents: Check if you're eligible - GOV.UK or through the online eligibility checker tool at Eligibility checker | Best Start in Life
Information of how to apply and to make an application How to apply | Best Start in Life
For eligible working families it’s important to remember that once you have applied and received your 11-digit code – You will need to reconfirm your code ever three months.
Free Early Education for 2-year-olds
In addition to the working families entitlement, the term after the child turns 2 years old, those that are in receipt of additional support, may be entitled to 15 hours per week, 38 weeks of the year.
Summary Table
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Working Families |
Free Early Education for two-year-olds |
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Claimed by working families/carers meeting certain income requirements. Eligibility criteria can be found: |
Claimed by families in receipt of certain income related benefits, children receiving Disability Living Allowance or children with looked after status. |
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Parents apply to HMRC online using the How to apply | Best Start in Life |
Parents apply |
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If eligible, a parent will receive an |
If eligible, a parent will receive a letter from Barnet council. |
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Must be re-confirmed by the parent every three months with HMRC, to continue accessing the 30-hour offer. |
Does not need to be re-confirmed. Once a letter is received, the child remains eligible until the term after their 3rd birthday. |
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Parent must apply and have received their code on or before 31 March, 31 August, or 31 December to claim funding from 1 April, 1 September, or 1 January respectively. |
There is no application cut off. From the date parent/carer apply and are found eligible. |
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Any queries regarding applying or eligibility must be made to |
Any queries regarding applying or eligibility must be made to our Early Years Team 020 8359 3052 earlyyears@barnet.gov.uk |
Childcare support for 3 and 4 year-olds - Universal Offer
All 3 and 4 year-olds are currently entitled to 15 hours of funded early education for 38 weeks a year, under the universal offer.
You can take these 15 hours as flexibly as your childcare provider can offer. Some providers can extend the hours over 51-52 weeks using fewer hours each week.
Children can access their funded hours the term after they turn 3 years old.
Please apply directly to the childcare provider. To help find an early years setting, please use the link Synergy - Search By Route
| A Child born between: | Is eligible from: |
|---|---|
| 1 January - 31 March | 1 April - Summer Term |
| 1 April - 31 August | 1 September - Autumn Term |
| 1 September - 31 December | 1 January - Spring Term |
Tax free childcare
If you, or your partner are over 16 and each expect to earn an average of £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) over three months, you could be eligible for tax-free childcare.
If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
Please note, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.
For more information on tax-free childcare, visit the Tax-Free Childcare | Best Start in Life
Universal Credit for childcare
If you or your partner are working or you’re due to start work and are claiming Universal Credit you could be eligible for Universal Credit for childcare.
For more information on Universal Credit for childcare, visit the Universal Credit Childcare | Best Start in Life
Choosing childcare and early education
Overview
Choosing childcare and early education is a significant step for the entire family. It’s important to ensure that the type of childcare you select meets both your needs and your child’s needs. You also want to be confident that your child will be safe, secure, well cared for, and happy.
You can choose to use one or more childcare providers.
Here are some childcare options you could consider:
Nurseries
Nurseries offer early education and childcare to children under five. All nurseries must be registered and inspected by OFSTED.
Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Nurseries:
- PVIs usually offer full time or part time places.
- Settings may be term time (38 weeks) or all year around (51-52 weeks).
- Hours available may differ from setting to setting.
- The majority will offer funded early years education.
- In addition, you may be able to access extra hours to suit your needs.
- From September 2024, working parents with babies starting from 9 months old will be eligible for 15 hours of childcare funding. (Specific details beyond this announcement are yet to be disclosed).
- Provision is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
School Nurseries:
- School nurseries provide early education to children from 3 years-old until they start reception. Some of Barnet school nurseries also provide early years education for
2 year-olds. - Typically, these sessions are three hours a day (or six hours if your child is entitled to 30 hours of free childcare) and only take place during the school term.
- If you require additional hours, you may wish to use a combination of a nursery and a childminder.
- Provision is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Just because your child attends the nursery, this doesn’t mean they will automatically get a place at the school.
Childminders
- if you want flexible childcare, a registered childminder may be the best option for you
- childminders care for small groups of children in their own home and can offer flexibility in the hours they work
- a childminder can also work without domestic premises
- like nurseries, they must be registered and inspected by Ofsted and receive relevant training
- all provision follows the Early years Foundation Stage. This is the statutory curriculum for children from 0-5 years
- childminders may also be able to pick-up and drop-off your child from nursery or school
- you may consider childminders to provide wraparound childcare for before and after school
Tips for choosing childcare:
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Visit a selection of childcare providers to give you an idea of what will suit you and your child.
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Take your child with you to see how they would fit in.
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Ask to see an Ofsted registration certificate and a recent inspection report.
Points to think about during your visit:
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are the children settled, safe and happy?
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do children play and talk together?
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are staff listening to children and answering them carefully?
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are the staff friendly and enjoying their work?
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are the staff joining in with what the children are doing?
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are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play?
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are the premises clean, well-kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will children go to parks and other places regularly)?
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do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?