Early Learning for 3 and 4 Year Olds and the Extended Entitlement (30 Hours Childcare)
Early learning for 3 and 4 year olds and the extended entitlement (30 hours childcare).
All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to a funded early learning place at an approved provider of the family’s choice from the beginning of the term after their 3rd birthday. This universal entitlement is free to parents and gives a child access to early learning until they start school. The entitlement is for 570 hours a year and is generally taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year (term time) but can be stretched over the year, for example 11 hours a week for 51 weeks of the year.
From 1st September 2017, this will be extended to 1,140 hours a year for working families. This can be taken as an additional 15 hours a week term time only (giving 30 hours a week) or stretched over the year.
Who is eligible to the extended entitlement?
Families are eligible if both parents are working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage and no more than £100,000 per year. This includes people who are self-employed or on zero hour contracts (as long as the income threshold is met). In a one parent family, the sole parent must be working.
If a parent is away from work temporarily (foe example on sick or maternity leave) they will continue to be eligible. Families where one parent is working and the other has a disability or substantial caring responsibilities should also be eligible.
If the parents’ circumstances change, for example if their income drops below the threshold or they loose their job they will be given a short 'grace period' (this is set by the Government) to give them time to find a new job and start earning at least the minimum amount again. If they do not find a new job within the grace period, their child will stop being eligible to receive the additional 15 hours free childcare (they will still be eligible for the universal 15 hours).
When will a child become eligible?
Parents will be eligible to claim the 30 hours free childcare for their child from the beginning of the term after their 3rd birthday. Terms start in January, April or September. For example, if a child becomes 3 on the 6th July, they will be eligible from the September of that year.
To qualify for the 30 hours free childcare from September 2017, a child must have turned 3 years old on or before the 31/08/2017
How does the extended early learning entitlement work?
The extended entitlement is for 1,140 hours per year, 30 hours a week is based on a child attending over 38 weeks a year (term time only). The entitlement will be flexible and can be taken over the whole year or part of a year, for example:
- 30 free hours per week over 38 weeks (term time only)
- 24 free hours per week over 47.5 weeks (Stretched offer)
- 22.35 free hours per week over 51 weeks (Stretched offer)
The hours can be taken flexibly during the day:
- A maximum of 10 hours childcare per day, 30 hours per week
- The free hours will be available between 6am & 8pm each day
- There is no minimum number of hours per day
- Parents can use their free childcare with a maximum of 2 childcare providers per day
Other combinations of childcare providers can be used at different points during the year for example, using a holiday club in the school holidays.
Childcare Providers are being encouraged to be flexible and explore ways in which they can meet the needs of families. Parents should discuss their working patterns with local childcare providers to see which can accommodate them more favourably.
How can parents apply for the extended entitlement (30 hours childcare)?
Parents must apply for the extended entitlement through the online eligibility checking system which can be found on
As part of the application, parents will be asked for information about themselves – national insurance numbers, the date they started work or are due to start work, details of any other government support they receive and, if they are self-employed, their Unique Taxpayer Reference.
If there are any issues with the application process, parents can call the Childcare Service Customer Interaction Centre on 0300 123 4097 for support.
Once they have applied successfully, parents will be given an Eligibility Reference Number.They must give this number, along with their National Insurance number, to their chosen childcare provider. The provider will use this information to check eligibility before they can offer a funded early learning extended entitlement place.
Parents have to reconfirm their eligibility every three months. HMRC will send a reminder when this is needed, it is then the parents’ responsibility to ensure that they complete their reconfirmation check online.
Where can parents take up the extended entitlement (30 hours childcare)?
Slough Borough Council approves a range of high quality providers to offer funded early learning places (both the universal and extended entitlement). This includes Childminders, private Day Nurseries and Pre-Schools, nurseries in Children’s Centres, maintained Nursery Schools and school nursery classes. The list of approved childcare providers can be found on the Family Information Service’s website, the Slough Services Guide.
To find a place for their child, parents should contact settings direct and arrange to visit and have a look around. During a visit it is important to discuss whether the days / times that you require are available in the setting.
Some providers may choose not to offer 30 hours of childcare but they can work in partnership with other providers so that parents can access their funded early learning place between two different providers in a day. This can include providers outside of Slough.
Where can I get information about childcare providers?
For more information about the funded early learning entitlement and childcare providers in Slough, contact Slough’s Family Information Service on 01753 476589 or