Childcare Funding

Early Years funding entitlement (3 to 4 Year olds)

Universal Entitlement (15 hours per week)
All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to the universal entitlement starting from the term after the child’s third birthday

Working families funding (15 hours per week)
Some working parents are entitled to an extra 15 hours per week on top of their universal entitlement)
Information on eligibility can be found - Early years funding guidance for parents and carers - Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk)

Targeted funded childcare (2 Year olds)

Families with 2-year-olds who meet certain criteria can apply for funding up to a maximum of 15 hours per week. Children become eligible in the funding period after their second birthday.

Details of what criteria needs to be met can be found here  Early years funding guidance for parents and carers - Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk)

Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme that helps with childcare costs up to a maximum of £2,000 for each eligible child each year (£4,000 if your child is disabled). Tax-Free Childcare is a UK-wide scheme covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can open an online account which you can pay into to cover your cost of childcare, for every 80p you pay in the government will top up your account with an extra 20p. To find out more about this scheme please go to: Tax-Free Childcare

ARE YOU A WORKING PARENT?

The recent announcement by the Government is part of the biggest ever investment in childcare in England, which is set to save working parents using 30 funded hours up to £6,500 per year from September 2025, so you can juggle the job you want with being a parent.

If you are an eligible working parent with a child aged 2 or above, you can apply for 15 hours funded childcare per week.

Details about the funding can be found here.

You will be able to apply for your 15 hours by visiting the application webpage.

Please note that this is separate to the current funding that is available to parents who meet certain criteria, details of which can be found here.