Tax-Free Childcare is a Government scheme that helps families save on childcare costs, including nursery fees. It can be used alongside both the 15 and 30 hours of Early Years Funding.
The eligibility criteria are similar to those for 30 hours of funding, but unlike funding, Tax-Free Childcare is available for all nursery-age children.
Find full eligibility, scheme and application details via the Tax-Free Childcare portal.
In England, all children aged 3 and 4 years old are entitled to 15 hours of government funded childcare per week, for 38 weeks of term time starting from the term after their third birthday.
In addition, eligible working families are entitled to 30 hours per week of early years funding for children aged 9 months to 4 years. To find out if you’re eligible, visit the link below.
At N, we’re pleased to offer the government’s early years funding to our families. You can find out more about funded fees at your nursery on their nursery page.
Because we are open 51 weeks a year, we spread the 15 or 30 hours funding across the full year. This means that 15 hours of funding covers 11.18 hours per week, and 30 hours of funding covers 22.35 hours per week.
Depending on your childcare plan, you may still receive a monthly charge even when claiming funding. This will be a combination of any additional, non-funded hours that your child attends each week, as well as additional charges for food, non-food consumables, and activities during funded hours which are not covered by government funding rates.
Eligible families are able to attend N for the funded hours only, depending on the nursery’s availability. We offer funded hours in 10-hour blocks, starting when the nursery opens, with the remaining hours occurring on agreed ad hoc days throughout the year.
For families using 15 hours of funding, the 11.18 hours (calculated by spreading the funding across 51 weeks) would equate to 1 full day per week, and 6 full ad hoc days on mutually agreeable days spread throughout the year. For families eligible for 30 hours of funding, the 22.35 hours (again, calculated by spreading the funding across 51 weeks) would equate to 2 full days per week, and 12 full ad hoc days.
Your Nursery Manager will agree the booking pattern of funded hours only with you, subject to the nursery’s availability.
Through our Positive Futures programme, we offer a number of fully-funded, three-day nursery places for qualifying 2–5 year olds across our nurseries.
These bursaries cover all the elements of a child’s place that are not included in Early Years Funding, ensuring families can access high-quality early years education regardless of financial circumstances.
By removing barriers to affordable, high-quality childcare, we aim to make a lasting, positive difference in children’s futures.
Please note: bursary places are allocated to families referred to us by the Local Authority.
Understanding the government’s 30 hours of funding and eligibility is a great way to see how we can support your family.
Your child becomes eligible for age-specific funding in the term following their relevant birthday (or month, in the case of 9 month olds).
The term start dates are 1st January, 1st April, and 1st September.
Families who are eligible for 30 hours of funding are responsible for applying for a positive determination of eligibility from HMRC - e.g. a valid eligibility code. This eligibility code must be provided to us before your child’s early years funding can be claimed.
For eligible families to keep claiming the 30 hours of funding whilst your child is at N, you must revalidate your eligibility code every three months when reminded by HMRC. This revalidation is the family’s responsibility and failure to do so may result in the 30 hours of funding being withdrawn.
Our funded hours include additional charges for essential items that are not covered by early years funding. These include all food and drink, formula milk, nappies, wipes, sun cream, emergency medication, and the magical additional activities provided by N.