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Children's centres and childcare

Help paying for childcare

Find out what help you could get with your childcare costs via the GOV.UK online calculator.

30 hours childcare - working parent entitlements

Working parents of children from the age of nine months to four years of age may be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare. This can be used from the term after your child turns nine months until they reach school age.

Eligibility and how to claim the funding

The Best Start in Life website can give you information on:

  • eligibility criteria for the 30 hour working parent support for children aged nine months and over
  • how to apply

Visit the Best Start in Life website to see if your child is eligible.

If your child is eligible, you will be provided with a code which you need to share with your child’s early years setting.

Once you have received your code, you must revalidate it every three months via your online account. If you don't, the code will become invalid. 

North Somerset Council cannot provide you with a code or accept late codes. 

Funding for two year olds

If you are claiming benefits or on a low income, your two year old may be entitled to 15 hours of two-year-old funding for families receiving additional support (FRAS). 

This includes children who receive Disability Living Allowance or who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

Two year olds can also get funding if they are looked after by a local authority, have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order. Some families who are not UK citizens and have ‘no recourse to public funds’ may also be eligible.

Visit the GOV.UK website to see the eligibility criteria. If you think you may be eligible, please apply for a code.

If you have any questions, please email two.yearoldfunding@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Some parents may be eligible for both this funding and working parent entitlements. The FRAS funding, once awarded, is in place until the term after your child turns three even if your financial circumstances change. We encourage you to apply for this funding in addition to the working parent entitlement, giving you a total of up to 30 hours funded childcare.

Universal funding for three and four year olds

All children aged three or four years old are eligible for funded childcare for up to 15 hours a week. This offer is available regardless of income levels, benefit status or family circumstances.

Please note, the 15-hour funding for three and four year olds is universal. This means there is no need to apply for this funding. Please contact your early years provider for more information.

GOV.UK website - get tax free childcare for working parents - 30 hours a week

Documents required to claim funding

For a childcare provider to claim funding for your child you will need to provide:

  • birth certificate
  • passport
  • parent declaration form (the childcare provider will give this to you)

Additional financial help available

You can view what other help you can get with the cost of childcare via the Best Start in Life website.

This includes:

  • Tax Free childcare
  • Disability Access Fund (DAF)
  • Early Years Pupil Premium
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Childcare Vouchers
  • Universal Credit Childcare
  • Support whilst you Study