All Aboard funding for 3 to 4 year olds

Eligibility criteria

All families are eligible for funded 3 and 4 year old childcare, simply go to a provider of your choice, check their availability and ask to register. You do not need a code to register. Children aged 3 and 4 years old are entitled to 570 hours of funded early learning childcare over 12 months. 

When does an All Aboard funded early learning childcare place start?

Your child can start the term after they turn 3 and finish at the end of the term in which they turn 5.

• If your child's birthday falls between 1 January and 31 March, they are eligible in the summer term after their second birthday.
• If your child's birthday falls between 1 April and 31 August, they are eligible in the autumn term after their second birthday.
• If your child's birthday falls between 1 September and 31 December, they are eligible in the spring term after their second birthday.

Eligibility criteria for a foster parent

If you are a working foster parent and your foster child is 3 to 4 years, you might be eligible for 570 hours per year of funded early learning childcare. You may also be eligible for an additional 570 hours of funded early learning childcare giving you a total of 1140 hours per year.

The Department for Education (DfE) guidance explains the criteria and process for foster parents in paid employment which is additional to their fostering duties. 

• Agreement from the responsible local authority that the foster parent engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent is consistent with the child’s care plan. The agreement that the foster parents can take up the funded childcare entitlement should be recorded and the care plan for the child should be updated as appropriate. 
• That, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent, although there is no minimum income requirement. 
• And in two parent foster families, either both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent (although there is no minimum income requirement for either foster parent) or one partner engages in paid work and the other partner receives certain qualifying benefits. 
• If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits. The Eligibility Checking System (ECS) is unable to perform the additional eligibility checks required so the Department has developed a parallel application process that uses existing delivery arrangements wherever possible. If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits. 

The initial application form needs to be completed by the foster parents for new children and countersigned by the child’s social worker so that eligibility for the working parent entitlement can be checked by the Childcare and Families Information Team (CFIT) before a voucher code is issued.

Please note, when applying as foster parent for the funding code with the Childcare and Families Information Team, you must apply before the Government cut off dates.  

Codes must have a start date on or before:

31 March to start in summer term - April
31 August to start in autumn term - September
31 December to start in spring term - January

Once a voucher code has been issued, the foster parents will then need to complete the revalidation form and get this countersigned by the child’s social worker every three months to continue receiving the fostered child’s funded early learning childcare. 

Getting a place

Have a look at our Childcare Directory to see all the providers offering funded places in your area.

Search the Childcare Directory

If you have a question or comment regarding finding suitable childcare, please contact us online.

Why do funded early learning places stop at the age of five?

Legally, the term after your child turns five; they should be in full-time education. In Derby, schools generally take in children in September. The funded early learning places can be paid up until the term your child turns five. Once your child starts school, they will stop being able to take up any funded early learning places.

Extended Entitlement

This is a continuation of the Take Off funding offer. If you are a working parent and your child is 3 to 4 years old, you might be eligible for an additional 570 hours of funded early learning childcare giving you a total of 1140 hours per year.

Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

£2,167 if you’re aged 23 or over
£2,117 if you’re aged 21 or 22
£1,557 if you’re aged 18 to 20
£1,098 if you’re under 18 or an apprentice

This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.

If either of you earn £100,000 or more per year you will not be eligible.

How to apply

Childcare providers offer many different funding models. You will need to speak to your childcare provider to find out what combination of fee paying and funded childcare sessions they offer.

Your child’s place using the funded early years childcare is funded by the government, however other small costs could be:

• your child’s lunch
• a registration or administration fee
• extra hours due to the pattern of attendance.

We recommend that these extras are confirmed in writing before you take up your child’s place. Some providers may let you bring a packed lunch if the cost of their lunch is a barrier to you taking a place.

When applying for funding codes on the GOV.UK website, you must apply before their cut off dates and that you must revalidate your 11-digit code every 3 months or you will lose your childcare funding.

Codes must have a start date on or before:

31 March to start in Summer term - April
31 August to start in Autumn term - September
31 December to start in Spring term - January

If you meet the working parent eligibility criteria, your child can start the term after they turn 3 years until they take up a school place.

• If your child's birthday falls between 1 January and 31 March, they are eligible in the summer term after their third birthday.
• If your child's birthday falls between 1 April and 31 August, they are eligible in the autumn term after their third birthday.
• If your child's birthday falls between 1 September and 31 December, they are eligible in the spring term after their third birthday.