Childcare and early years education

The full criteria for the funding can be found on the Help with Childcare Costs area of Gov.uk.

If you think your child might qualify, you can apply online via our Citizen Portal, through an approved childcare provider, or through a Best Start Family Hub.

You will need:

• your national insurance number
• date of birth
• your child’s name
• your child’s date of birth

When visiting your chosen childcare provider, you will be asked to show your child’s birth certificate.

Apply online

Every child aged three and four is eligible to access up to 570 hours of free early education per year, 15 hours term time or stretched over the year. 

The funding will begin the term after the child’s third birthday. The term dates are:

• 1st January – 31st March
• 1st April – 31st August
• 1st September – 31st December

The free places are available in settings that are Ofsted registered and are on the local authority register of approved providers (this will link to the childcare directory once it is live).

You do not need to apply for this funding, you will just need to speak to your preferred childcare provider to arrange a place for your child.

Some children aged from nine months to school age may be eligible for a 30 hours place. The funding is to support working parents. Look at Best Start in Life for more details about the criteria and application process.

When visiting your chosen childcare provider, you will be asked to show your child’s birth certificate.

Please be aware that you will not be charged for the funded hours, but any additional hours or services (food, trips) that your child receives may be charged for.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that people have about the funded childcare.

Information about other types of help with childcare can be found on the Best Start in Life website.

Check what help you could get with childcare costs using the Gov.uk Childcare Calculator.

Universal Credit Childcare

The childcare element of Universal Credit is for working families claiming Universal Credit who have children under 17. Parents may be able to claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs. Upfront childcare costs may be available to eligible parents moving in to work or increasing hours.

Find out more about the funding and how it can work with other childcare schemes.

Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-Free Childcare is for working parents, including those who are self-employed in the UK.

Parents will need to:

• Set up an online childcare account via Gov.uk
• Search for childcare providers who are signed up to Tax-Free Childcare and add them to your account so that you can start paying them from your childcare account. If your childcare provider isn’t signed up to the scheme, you can send them a nudge notification and ask them to sign up.
• Deposit money into the account. For every £8 paid into the online account, the Government will add an extra £2 – up to £2000 per child, per year.
• Use the money to pay your childcare provider through your online account
• Reconfirm your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare via your online account every three months.

Full details about the funding and the application process can be found on the Best Start in Life website

If you need help finding a childcare provider, or have any questions about any aspect of early education and childcare, you can contact Bolton Families Information Service on 01204 332170, or email families@bolton.gov.uk.

Alternatively, you can complete this online form with details of the area that you are looking for and the age of your child/children.

Additional support can be offered to families of disabled children and young people to access short break opportunities, e.g. leisure activities.