30 Hours Free Childcare and Tax-Free Childcare for working parents

You may be able to get up to 30 hours free childcare if your child is 3 to 4 years old.

Your eligibility depends on:

• if you are working
• how much you earn
• your child’s circumstances
• your nationality

You can get 30 hours free childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, tax credits or Tax-Free Childcare - see the Childcare Choices website for more details.

If you get Tax-Free Childcare, the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider. This is paid via an online childcare account that you set up for your child. You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.

Both parents need to be working (if a couple) to apply for 30 hours free childcare.

Watch the Department for Education's video

How to apply for 30 hours childcare and Tax-Free Childcare

For more information on how to apply for 30 hours Free Childcare and Tax-Free Childcare visit HMRC's Childcare Choices website.

Once registered for 30 hours and/or Tax-Free Childcare, you will need to reconfirm your eligibility via your HMRC account every 3 months.

Qualification

Use the GOV.UK Childcare Calculator to check what help you could get with childcare costs

Additional costs

Your child’s place of up to 30 hours funding per week will be completely free of charge to you – all money is paid directly from us to the childcare provider where your child has a place.

Childcare providers can however charge parents a refundable deposit. Providers should refund the deposit in full once your child takes up their place. Your childcare provider may also charge you for additional services – for example, lunch, snacks, trips and extracurricular activities. 

Foster carers

See our 30 hours free childcare and foster carers page.

When your child take up their 30 hours

If your child is eligible for 30 hours free childcare they can start the next available term after their third birthday. See the table for more details.

If you already have a 30 hours free childcare and Tax-Free Childcare account

You will need to sign in to your account to check for messages from HMRC and reconfirm your eligibility status every 3 months so you can update your childcare provider and continue receiving your free childcare.

Find a provider

Our easy search helps you find Haringey’s free childcare providers. You can also choose the area and type of provider you are looking for.

Find free childcare providers

Make sure you contact your preferred provider as soon as possible to confirm and secure your place.

Providers offering Tax-Free Childcare

Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare. Check direct with your provider to see if they’re signed up.

How to apply

Apply here for free 30 hours/Tax-Free Childcare

To receive Tax-Free Childcare, your child must be aged 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday.

Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not.

If your child is disabled you may get additional funding until they’re 17. They’re eligible for this if they:

• get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment
• are certified as blind or severely sight-impaired

See GOV.UK for more details and funding available.

Already registered? Reconfirm your eligibility

You will need to reconfirm your eligibility details via your HMRC account (for Tax-Free Childcare) or your eligibility code (for 30 hours free childcare) every 3 months in order to continue to receive your entitlements.

You will receive reminder notifications from HMRC just before renewal dates but it is important that you regularly check your HMRC account for details.

Reconfirm your 30 hours/Tax Free Childcare code