Funded childcare in England has changed significantly between 2024 and 2026. This guide explains what you're entitled to in Shropshire as a working parent, a parent receiving qualifying benefits, or simply the parent of a 3 or 4-year-old — how to apply, when funding starts, and what nurseries can and cannot charge.
What funded childcare hours are available in England in 2026?
In 2026, eligible working parents in England can access 30 funded childcare hours per week for children from 9 months old until they start school. This is the flagship childcare entitlement, fully rolled out in September 2025.
Separately, all 3 and 4-year-olds receive 15 universal hours regardless of income or working status, and parents of 2-year-olds receiving certain qualifying benefits are entitled to 15 funded hours per week.
Hours are delivered through registered settings including day nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders. They are normally spread across 38 school weeks per year, or stretched across more weeks (up to 51 weeks) at fewer hours per week — most Shropshire nurseries can accommodate either approach.
Who qualifies for 30 hours funded childcare as a working parent?
To qualify for 30 hours in 2026, you (and your partner if you live together) must each expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage — around £195 per week, or £10,158 per year, from April 2025. Neither parent can have an adjusted net income above £100,000 per year.
Self-employed parents, company directors, and those on statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, or shared parental leave also qualify. Both parents must have a National Insurance number.
Special rules apply if one partner cannot work: Carer's Allowance, Contribution-Based Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, or Severe Disablement Allowance can exempt a non-working partner from the earnings requirement, provided the other partner still meets it.
When does my child's funding actually start in Shropshire?
Funded hours start from the term after your child becomes eligible. Term start dates are 1 January, 1 April, and 1 September.
For the 30-hour entitlement from 9 months, you can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. To start in April, apply by 31 March; to start in September, apply by 31 August; to start in January, apply by 31 December.
Once you have your eligibility code, give it to your nursery — they use it to claim funding from Shropshire Council. Codes must be reconfirmed every 3 months through your government childcare account. Letting one lapse can cause your child's funded place to stop mid-term, so treat reconfirmation like any other standing obligation.
Can I get funded hours for my 2-year-old?
Yes, via two separate routes. Working parents who meet the income criteria receive 30 hours per week for their 2-year-old, on the same basis as for children aged 9 months to school age.
Separately, families receiving certain qualifying benefits are entitled to 15 hours per week for 2-year-olds regardless of working status. Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit with household income of £15,400 or less after tax, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the guaranteed element of Pension Credit, and certain disability-related benefits.
Children looked after by the local authority, adopted from care, and those with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan also qualify. Apply for the 15-hour benefits-based offer through Shropshire Council's Family Information Service.
What about the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds?
Every 3 and 4-year-old in England is entitled to 15 funded hours per week regardless of household income or working status. No eligibility code is needed — your nursery claims it on your behalf from Shropshire Council once you complete a short parental declaration.
Working parents who qualify for 30 hours simply receive an additional 15 extended hours on top of the universal 15, for a combined 30 hours total. You do still need to apply for and renew the 30-hour code; the universal 15 run automatically.
The universal 15 hours start from the term after your child's third birthday and continue until they start school. If you don't need the full entitlement, you can use fewer hours — you're not obliged to take every funded hour.
How do I apply for funded childcare in Shropshire?
For 30-hour funded childcare, apply online at childcare.gov.uk using the government's Childcare Service. You'll need a Government Gateway account, your National Insurance number, your partner's details if applicable, and information about your employment and expected income.
The service checks your eligibility in real time. If approved, you'll receive an 11-digit code — give it to your nursery along with your National Insurance number and your child's date of birth.
The universal 15 hours and the 2-year-old benefits-based entitlement are administered by Shropshire Council directly. Your nursery will provide the relevant parental declaration form and submit the claim on your behalf. Allow two to three weeks for processing before term starts.
Why do some nurseries charge extra on funded days?
Funded hours cover childcare only. The government pays nurseries a set hourly rate for each funded hour, and in many cases that rate does not fully cover the true cost of delivering a full day — particularly the cost of meals, snacks, nappies, sun cream, and consumables.
Many Shropshire nurseries therefore apply a separate charge on funded-only days, typically £7 to £12 per day, to cover food and consumables. These charges are optional in principle — parents choosing to opt out must usually provide their own food and consumables for the day.
Under Department for Education rules, charges must be clear, itemised in writing, and consistent between funded and fee-paying children. Ask any nursery for a written breakdown before accepting a place; a good nursery will have this ready without needing to be asked.
Can I combine funded hours with Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. Tax-Free Childcare is a separate government scheme that adds a 20% top-up to your childcare spending, up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 if your child is disabled.
You open a dedicated online account, pay money in, the government adds 20%, and the nursery draws payment directly from the account. You can use Tax-Free Childcare alongside funded hours to pay for any sessions beyond your entitlement, to pay meals charges on funded days, or to cover wrap-around care.
There is one important exception: you cannot use Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare support at the same time. You must choose which scheme suits your family, and for many lower-income households Universal Credit childcare is the better option.
What happens if my circumstances change?
Codes for 30-hour funded childcare must be reconfirmed every 3 months. You'll get an email reminder around four weeks before the deadline. If your income drops, you start or end statutory leave, or a partner moves in or out, update your details promptly — you may still qualify under different criteria.
If you become ineligible for 30 hours (for example, income rises above £100,000, or one parent stops working), you enter a grace period lasting to the end of the following term. During the grace period your child keeps their funded place, so you have time to plan.
The universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds is not affected by income changes. Nor are the benefits-based 15 hours for 2-year-olds, provided you continue to meet the qualifying conditions.
Next steps
Before choosing a nursery, ask for a written fees schedule that shows the session fee, the meals and consumables charge on funded days, and how the nursery applies your entitlement across the term. Apply for your eligibility code at least a month before you want funding to start, and set a calendar reminder for the 3-monthly reconfirmation.