Take Off funding for 9 month to 4 year olds
Eligibility criteria
If you are a working parent and your child is 9 months and above, you might be eligible for 570 hours of funded early learning childcare. You can apply from 12 May.
The term after your child turns 3 years, all children are eligible for 570 hours per year. If you a working parent, you may be eligible for an additional 570 hours of funded early learning childcare giving you a total of 1140 hours for your 3 to 4 year old.
Minimum eligible wage for Take Off funding is different for different age groups. 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 for Take Off funding.
You can check your eligibility and apply for your code up to 16 weeks before your child is due to start. Your eligibility code must be revalidated every 3 months otherwise you will lose your funding.
- If your child turns 9 months old in the summer term, on or before the 31 August then, if you are eligible, you will receive your funding in the autumn term starting in September.
- If your child turns 9 months old in the autumn term, on or before the 31 December then if you are eligible, you will receive your funding in the spring term starting in January.
- If your child turns 9 months old in the spring term, on or before the 31 March then if you are eligible, you will receive your funding in the spring term starting in April.
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.
Please note, when applying for funding codes on the Government 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
Parents on parental leave
For parents on parental leave who are applying for the child who is the reason for the leave, or for parents starting a new job, the following applies:
- If you are planning to start work or return to work from parental leave before 30 September, you can apply for the working parent entitlement from 12 May, to take up a place from the September term. You need to apply online, and you will then receive a letter in the post within 1 to 2 weeks so you can access your childcare entitlement.
- If you are planning to start or return to work from parental leave between 1 October and 31 January, you’ll be able to apply from 1 September to take up a place from the January term.
From 1 October, the following dates will apply:
Date of starting or returning to work | When you can apply from | When you can access your entitlement from |
---|---|---|
1 October to 31 January | 1 September to 31 December | 1 January |
1 February to 30 April | 1 January to 31 March | 1 April |
1 May to 30 September | 1 April to 31 August | 1 September |
Parents with Tax Free Credits accounts
If your reconfirmation window opened on or after 9 June 2024, you should have received a letter from HMRC by 24 May 2024. The letter provided a valid temporary code and instructions on how to use it to claim your entitlement.
If you haven’t received your letter, please call the HMRC helpline on 0300 1234 097 urgently.
If your reconfirmation window opens before the 9 June, you will not receive a letter as their reconfirmation window will open in good time to register for a code digitally and give it to their provider.
Eligibility criteria for foster parents
If you are a working foster parent and your foster child is 9 months or older, you might be eligible for 570 hours of funded early learning childcare.
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 before a voucher code is issued.
Please note, when applying as a 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 3 months to continue receiving the fostered child’s funded early learning childcare.
When does a Take Off funded early learning childcare place start?
If you meet the working parent eligibility criteria, your child can start the term after they turn 9 months or older:
- If your child's birthday falls between 1 January and 31 March, they are eligible in the summer term after they turn 9 months old.
- If your child's birthday falls between 1 April and 31 August, they are eligible in the autumn term after they turn 9 months old.
- If your child's birthday falls between 1 September and 31 December, they are eligible in the spring term after they turn 9 months old.
Getting a place
Have a look at our childcare directory to see all the providers offering Take Off funded places in your area.
If you have a question or comment regarding finding suitable childcare, please contact us online.