30 hours childcare for working families
3. When to apply and term dates
Eligible working families can now apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age.
You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old and take up a place from the term after your child turns 9 months old. Your child can start in their childcare place the term after they reach 9 months old, providing you have received a valid eligibility code.
If you do not confirm your eligibility and receive an 11-digit code by the date listed below, you will not be able to access your additional hours until the start of the next term.
| If my child turns 9 months old between | I can access 30 funded hours from | And I need to apply by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January | 31 December |
| 1 January to 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April | 31 March |
| 1 April to 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September | 31 August |
Foster carers
If you are a foster carer, there is a separate application process. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply as a foster carer. If you are applying for your own children the dates above apply. This separate application process is only for children that you foster.
How it works with maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave
If you are applying for the child that is the subject of the parental leave, the date that you return to work from parental leave will affect when you can take up the childcare. The below dates apply:
| Date of returning to work | When you can apply from | When you can access entitlements from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October to 31 January | 1 September to 31 December | 1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April | 1 January to 31 March | 1 April |
| 1 May to 30 September | 1 April to 31 August | 1 September |
Starting a new job
If you are Lancashire parents who are planning to start new work, you can also apply. The following dates apply:
| Date of starting work | When you can apply from | When you can access entitlements from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October to 31 January | 1 September to 31 December | 1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April | 1 January to 31 March | 1 April |
| 1 May to 30 September | 1 April to 31 August | 1 September |
If you are on paid annual leave and receiving your salary as normal, this counts as having returned to work for the purposes of eligibility for the working parent entitlement. Find out more on the GOV.UK Childcare Choices website.