Funded childcare for parents
Find out about funded childcare if your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old.
From this September, 15 hours childcare for working families with children under 3 will expand to 30 hours.
This means eligible working families can now apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after your child turns 9 months until they reach school age.
Apply for your childcare code on GOV.UK by 31 August to start using the support from September.
For a step-by-step guide on how to apply, watch the YouTube video from the Department for Education.
An Early Years Educator, Steff, explains the process.
If your child is 9 months to 2 years old
Children aged 9 months to 2 years old currently get 15 hours of free childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year.
From September 2025 this will increase to 30 hours per week. As the deadline for applying for 15 hours of free childcare has passed, you'll now be applying for 30 hours instead.
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.
If your child is 2 to 3 years old and you get extra support
You can get 30 hours of free childcare through 2 separate schemes if both of the following apply:
- you’re eligible for free childcare for working parents
- you or your child get extra support
From September 2025 you’ll get:
- 15 hours per week through free childcare for working parents
- 15 hours per week if you or your child get extra support (you’ll continue to get these hours even if you’re no longer eligible for free childcare for working parents)
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.
Apply for funding for 2 year olds
If you get extra support, you will need to register on our Citizen Portal.
Once registered, you can choose to apply for free childcare for working parents.
If your child is 3 to 4 years old
Currently all 3 and 4 year olds can get 15 hours per week, for 38 weeks. This is until they:
- go into Reception class
- reach compulsory school age (the term following their 5th birthday)
You can get 30 hours of free childcare per week 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.
If you’re already getting 15 hours of free childcare
You don’t need to reapply for a new code. Simply continue to reconfirm your details every 3 months on your GOV.UK account and your existing code will update automatically.
If you’re eligible, apply now for your childcare code on GOV.UK. You will need this to access your hours.
Apply by 31 August to start using your hours from 1 September. You will need to apply before the deadline.
Apply for a nursery place
To apply for a nursery place, visit the Cumberland Council website.
If you are applying with a private, voluntary or independent provider, you will need to ask them for an application form.
Providers must be Ofsted registered and included on the local authority list. They include:
- day nurseries
- pre schools
- nursery schools
- nursery classes
- independent schools
- childminders
We cannot fund any other types of care, including family arrangements.
You can find a list of approved childcare providers in our Family Information Directory.