Free learning and childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to 15 hours of free learning and childcare during school term time. There is no need to apply for these free hours.

Some early learning providers offer free hours in the school holidays, for example children could access 11 hours each week for up to 51 weeks of the year.

Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds may be able to get an extra 15 hours of free childcare during school term time, if they meet the criteria. Therefore you could get up to 30 hours of free childcare.

You can get free places from a range of learning and childcare providers including:

Childminders
Day nurseries
Pre-schools and playgroups
Schools with nursery provision

This is known as approved childcare.

When your child can start their free 15 hours place
If your childs' 3rd birthday is between	Their free place can start from
1 January and 31 March	Summer term - April
1 April and 31 August	Autumn term - early September
1 September and 31 December	Spring term - early January

When your child is eligible for 30 hours free childcare

Your child is eligible if the following applies to your family:

Both parents must be working, or a sole parent must be working in a lone parent family
Each parent earns on average a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage or national living wage
Each parent must have an annual income of less than £100,000

Application deadlines for 30 hours free childcare
If your childs' 3rd birthday is between	Ideal time to apply	Deadline for receiving the code	Their free place can start from
1 January and 31 March	January	31 March	Summer term - April
1 April and 31 August	June	31 August	Autumn term - early September
1 September and 31 December	October	31 December	Spring term - early January

Apply for 30 hours free childcare

To complete your application you will need to create a childcare account and provide details about your child and family.

It is recommended that parents apply as soon as possible to make sure they receive their code in good time and before the deadline. Not all parents receive a code straight away; sometimes more information is required which can delay the application.

Completing this form takes 20 minutes

Apply online

After you have applied

If you are eligible, you will receive an 11 digit code to give to your chosen childcare provider.
You can check if a childcare provider is approved or choose an approved provider by using the Childcare search .

Help with childcare costs

Find out what other Help you could get with childcare costs .

If you are not satisfied with your child's free early education and care place

Your childcare provider should have a clear complaints procedure available to all parents. It should include a procedure for parents who are not satisfied their child has received their free early education entitlement in the correct way. By this we mean in accordance with the law or as set out in the current Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities.
If you have made a complaint to your childcare provider about your child's free early education entitlement and the matter has not been resolved with your provider then you can make a complaint to the council to:
- Kirklees Council
- Service Director for Learning and Early Support, PO Box 1720, Huddersfield, HD1 9EL
- earlyeducation@kirklees.gov.uk
The council will investigate your complaint and provide a written response within a reasonable timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with the way in which your complaint has been dealt with by the Council or believe the Council has acted unreasonably, you can make a complaint to the Local Authority Ombudsman . Such complaints will only be considered when the local complaints procedures have been exhausted.

Children and families