3 and 4 year olds

Early years funded places for 3 and 4 year olds

• All families in Lancashire are eligible to claim 15 hours per week early years funding to enable them to access a place at an early years setting (up to a max of 570 per year) For further information please see our website.

30 Hours funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

• Some working families of 3 and 4 year olds are also entitled to an additional 15 hours per week (i.e. 30 hours in total), if they meet the eligibility criteria.
• To qualify, both parents have to be working (or be a working single parent), earning above the minimum income threshold, which is the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the minimum or living wage (approximately £103-£140 per week depending on age).
• It doesn’t matter if parents work less than 16 hours per week providing the earnings are above the minimum threshold
• For further information please see our website.
• To check eligibility, parents need to apply through the online childcare service. There is one application for 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare (see below) and as part of their application, parents will find out if they can get both.