Find free early education and childcare

Find out what free early education and childcare is available in your area.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

For example SW1A 2AA

What you need to know

Available in England only.

If you’re a working parent, you may be able to get 30 hours of free childcare a week if your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old. You’ll get these 30 hours for 38 weeks of the year.

You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education or childcare per week.

If you or your child get extra support, you may be eligible for free education and childcare for 2 year olds.

You can also search for help with:

Part of Get childcare: step by step

  1. Step 1 Find out if you can get help with childcare costs

    1. Check what help you could get with childcare costs

    You can only get help with 'approved childcare'.

    1. Find out what 'approved childcare' is

  2. and Find where you can get childcare

    1. Find a nursery school place
    2. Find a registered childminder
    3. You are currently viewing: Search for free early education and childcare

  3. Step 2 Get help paying for childcare

    You can get help with childcare costs for children under 18. You might be able to apply for:

    You could also get free childcare when your child is aged 9 months to 4 years. You might be able to apply for:

    You can only get childcare vouchers if you have already joined a scheme.

    1. Check the rules for childcare vouchers

  4. Step 3 Check what to do if your circumstances change

    1. If you're getting Universal Credit, tell government straight away if your circumstances change

    If you're getting Free Childcare for Working Parents or Tax-Free Childcare you have to confirm if your details are up to date every 3 months.

    1. Sign into your childcare account to find out when you next have to check your details

    Your eligibility for support with childcare costs might also change.

    1. Check if your eligibility for help with childcare costs has changed

  5. Step 4 Check what to do when your child reaches school age

    1. Apply for a primary school place
    2. Find before and after school and holiday clubs

    You might be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for childcare like wraparound care, after school clubs or other activities.