Childcare and Education for Children
Childcare and Education for Children
Understanding Funding & Fees At Little Foxes
Did You Know?
Your child may be entitled to 15 or 30 free hours of childcare per week that we can stretch all year round.
What is government funded childcare?
Government funded childcare is financial support to help cover nursery fees, while giving your child the strongest possible start. From September 2025, eligible working parents of children aged nine months to school age can access up to 30 funded hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.
These hours are there to ease the cost of childcare and to make sure every child can benefit from high quality early education in a safe and nurturing setting.
At Little Foxes, we keep the process straightforward. We will guide you through claiming your funded hours so you can focus on what matters most, watching your little one grow, learn and explore.
Who can apply for childcare funding?
You can apply if all of this applies to you:
You live in England.
Your child is older than 9 months.
You and your partner, if you have one, each earn at least £183 a week on average. That is the same as 16 hours at National Minimum Wage.
Neither of you has a net income over £100,000 a year.
Top tip 💡If you are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you cannot work because you are disabled or a carer, you can still apply.
How can I apply for government funding?
Visit the government childcare portal.
Sign in or create an account (to create an account you will first need your Government Gateway user ID. If you’re a new user, you will need to register for one here).
Enter your details (you, your partner, your child).
Check you meet the criteria and click “Apply”.
Wait for your code by email.
Give your code to us – you can do this via email or at drop-off.
When should I apply?
You must have your code before the term starts, and the application deadline depends on when your child becomes eligible.
Here's how it works:
You can apply when your child is 23 weeks old, and the funded hours begin in the term after your child turns 9 months.
Application deadlines align with term start dates:
Apply by 31 August for childcare to begin from 1 September
Apply by 31 December to start 1 January
Apply by 31 March to begin 1 April
💡Top tip: Applying early - around 4 weeks before the deadline- can help you avoid delays in processing
How do I keep my code active?
To keep your funded hours running smoothly, you’ll need to reconfirm your details every three months in your GOV.UK childcare account.
It only takes a few minutes and means:
Your details stay up to date.
Your code stays valid.
You avoid any break in your government-funded hours.
We’ll remind you when it’s time, so you don’t have to worry about missing the deadline.
How do we calculate fees?
Our fees are calculated on an annual basis so your monthly invoice is the same amount each month (excluding extra sessions)
We stretch funding 52 weeks per year
Benefits of the Stretched Model:
More flexibility for working families by reducing holiday childcare costs.
Smoother transitions for children with year-round care, promoting emotional security and consistent learning.
Eased financial pressure by spreading funded hours throughout the year, helping to reduce additional holiday care expenses.
To find out more information on each type of funding, as well as who is eligible, why not download our FREE Childcare Funding Choices PDF?
Please let us know if you believe you may be eligible for any form of funding or help with costs and we will be happy to assist you.
