February 23, 2026
If your child is between 9 months and 2 years old, you’ll need to check with your local council’s early years team or Family Information Service to confirm when the funded hours become available in your area, as the rollout is being introduced in stages.
If you’re a working parent in England, the childcare code could help you save thousands on childcare costs.
It’s an 11-digit code that confirms your eligibility for Free Childcare for Working Parents, a government scheme that now offers up to 30 hours of funded childcare for children aged 9 months to 5 years.
This expansion means more parents than ever can access affordable, high-quality early education. Once approved, your code can be used with any registered childcare provider, such as Little Oaks Day Nursery, to claim your funded hours and give your child the best possible start.
You may be eligible for the childcare code if you:
Families who don’t qualify for the full 30 hours may still receive 15 hours of free childcare each week.
If your child is between 9 months and 2 years old, you’ll need to check with your local council’s early years team or Family Information Service to confirm when the funded hours become available in your area, as the rollout is being introduced in stages.
You don’t apply through your nursery; all applications are done online through the government’s official website.
Here’s how to apply:
You’ll need to give this code to your chosen childcare provider, along with your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth.
If you live with a partner, include them in your application if you are:
Only one parent can have a childcare code per child. If you’re separated, you’ll need to agree on who applies. If you can’t, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will decide based on your circumstances.
If your partner is away from home for more than six months or is a prisoner, their income won’t affect your eligibility.
If you’re self-employed or run your own business, you can still apply for the childcare code.
However, HMRC may ask for proof that you meet the minimum income requirement. This could include:
You’ll need to provide this when you first apply and each time you renew your details.
Once you’ve got your code, you can use it with any registered childcare provider, including Little Oaks Day Nursery.
You’ll need to share your childcare code, National Insurance number, and your child’s date of birth.
Depending on your eligibility, your child can receive:
You can use your hours during term time or spread them across the year to fit your family’s schedule.
At Little Oaks, we’ll help you understand how your funding works and make sure your child’s experience is seamless and enjoyable.
Your childcare code must be renewed every three months. HMRC will remind you by email when it’s time to reconfirm your details.
It only takes a few minutes to log in and confirm your information, but if you forget, your code may temporarily stop working, which means your funded hours could pause until it’s reactivated.
Our team at Little Oaks Day Nursery is always happy to remind and guide parents who aren’t sure how to renew.
When you apply for Free Childcare for Working Parents, HMRC automatically checks if you also qualify for Tax-Free Childcare.
This gives you 20% off extra childcare costs, up to £2,000 per child each year (or £4,000 if your child has a disability).
Many families use both schemes, the childcare code for their funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare for any additional sessions or wraparound care.
The childcare code makes high-quality childcare much more affordable for working families.
Here’s why it’s worth applying:
At Little Oaks Day Nursery, we see every day how funded hours benefit both children and parents, making early learning accessible, enriching, and enjoyable for the whole family.
At Little Oaks Day Nursery, we understand that childcare funding can feel a bit confusing at first.
While we don’t process applications, we’re always here to help explain how the childcare code works, what documents you’ll need, and how to use your funded hours once your code is approved.
We’re committed to helping families access the care they need, so you can focus on watching your little one learn, play, and grow in a happy, safe environment.
The childcare code is one of the most helpful ways for working parents to make nursery care more affordable while giving their child a strong early start.
If you’d like to learn more about funded childcare or explore a place for your child at Little Oaks Day Nursery, we’d love to hear from you.
Baby led weaning (often shortened to BLW) is a style of introducing solids where babies feed themselves soft, baby-safe foods from around six months of age.
Discover how government childcare funding works at Little Oaks Nursery, from eligibility to meals, with no hidden charges and inclusive care for every child.
At Little Oaks Day Nursery, we offer a warm, welcoming atmosphere at all of our locations, including our Penn nursery, Bushbury nursery and Wolverhampton nursery.
We’re always happy to help - whether you’re looking to book a visit, ask a question or simply learn more about what we do. Reach out to our friendly team and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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