From April 2024, some 2-year-olds will be eligible for free childcare funding – scroll to the bottom of the page for more details.

There are four types of funding available for early years children.

Universal 15 hours funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds (and some 2 year olds).

All 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week which can be shared between different childcare providers. To claim this you need to complete a standard form from Warrington Borough Council and return a signed copy to us, which we will then use to complete our claim through the council.

Download the form to fill in here, fill it in, sign and return to us.

30 hours funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.

A child can receive up to 30 hours funded childcare per week (max 570 hours per year) if the parents work at least 16 hours per week and earn more than the national living wage but less than £100,000 per year.

To claim this funding parents must register on the government childcare service website and obtain an eligibility code.

Click here to visit the government childcare service website to obtain an eligibility code.

Once the eligibility code has been obtained you will need to complete the Warrington Borough Council standard claim form, sign and return to us.

Click here to get the Warrington Borough Council claim form.

We need this code as soon as possible before the start of a term.

If not then the funding will not start until the following term and you will be charged £5.84 per hour.

Tax-free childcare.

Parents can get up to £2000 government support per child per year towards their childcare costs. For every £8 a parent pays into their childcare account, the government will pay in an extra £2. To sign up for tax-free childcare you need to visit the government childcare service. This is the same portal as the 30 hours free childcare so you can sign up for both at the same time. Once registered the scheme can pay us directly. You can find us registered as Nest in the Woods, WA43EP

Click her to visit the government childcare service website.

Childcare vouchers.

If you are already using childcare vouchers you will probably be better off to stick with them because you get a bit more back from tax and national insurance than you would with the tax-free childcare scheme. Childcare vouchers are a salary sacrifice scheme – talk to your employer.

New childcare offers to support working families

From April 2024, childcare support for working families is changing.

  • From April 2024, eligible 2 year olds can receive 15 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks
  • From September 2024, the term following a child turning 9 months, children can receive 15 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks
  • From September 2025, from the term following a child turning  9 months old to school age can receive 30 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks

Applications for these offers is through the Childcare Choices website, applications for those families who will be eligible from 1 April 2024, can apply from 2 January 2024. For families with younger children who will be eligible from September 2024, applications can be made from 10 June 2024.