Working parent entitlement - Parents

If you wish to start accessing the working parent entitlement for early years you must make an application via HMRC. If eligible you will receive an 11 digit eligibility code. Parents must renew this code approximately every three months via HMRC. Reminders will be sent by HMRC.

Parents can be employed or self-employed.

For further information and how to apply, visit Childcare Choices (opens new window).

Eligibility for working parent entitlement for children in foster care has been extended to foster carers where the foster parents meet certain eligibility criteria, giving foster families the same support as other families where it is right for the child. 

Children in foster care will be able to receive working parent entitlement hours, if the following criteria are met:

• that accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child's care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision-making
• that, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent
• in two parent foster families, both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent. If one partner is not a foster parent then they must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent of 16 hours at national minimum/national living wage

Please complete the following application form: Foster carer 30 hours application form (PDF, 167 KB)(opens new window).

You will need to speak to the child's social worker before applying. If they agree, you need to complete this application form. Once you and your partner (if you have one) have signed, the form must be returned to the child's social worker for approval. If your application is successful, you will get your eligibility code from Wiltshire Council Early Years & Childcare.

If you need further assistance, please contact Wiltshire Council Early Years & Childcare:
0300 003 4561
earlyyears@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)
Early years and childcare

Up to 30 hours of childcare is available for 38 weeks of the year (if taken over school term time). Some childcare providers can stretch your entitlement across more weeks by taking fewer hours over each week (e.g. 23.75 hours over 48 weeks). Parents can expect to pay for any meals or other consumables or additional activities offered by the provider, such as nappies or trips. Where parents choose to purchase additional hours, consumables or additional activities, this is a private matter between the provider and the parent. However, providers must offer alternative options, for example to bring in their own consumables or a packed lunch.

If you're currently benefiting from using the 15 hours of universal childcare, ask your childcare provider if they're offering the working parent entitlement. Some providers may not be able to offer more hours, or they may only be able to offer a few extra hours. This may be due to places they have available or their opening times.

You can use the funding to pay for more than one childcare provider. This could be a nursery and a childminder, or two childminders.

You can only use the funding with childcare providers registered to access Early Years Entitlement funding. This includes:

• childminders
• pre-schools, play groups and nurseries
• out-of-school clubs (as long as they are listed on Ofsted's Early Years Register - this is different from the Childcare Register) 

These also include early education and childcare provision run by schools.

Please note that not all providers are offering the working parent entitlement (as they don't have to) please check with providers if they are offering it.

Use our Online Childcare Directory (opens new window) to find childcare, you can search by town or within a radius of a postcode.

Your chosen childcare provider(s) will need to check your eligibility, to do this you will be required to complete a parent declaration form and give consent for the provider to perform the necessary checks (to fulfil requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR).

Children may only start accessing the working parent entitlement from the term following their birthday AND the term following receipt of their eligibility code from HMRC, whichever is later. For the purpose of this funding, terms are defined as follows:

• Autumn Term : 1 September - 31 December
• Spring Term : 1 January - 31 March
• Summer Term: 1 April - 31 August

If you wish to apply for the working parent entitlement, please see the below table:

For example, a child who turns three between 1 September and the 31 December will start their working parent entitlement from 1 January. Parents are encouraged to apply in the term before their child's birthday in order to access a place in the term following their child's birthday. 

Parents must renew their code approximately every three months. Failure to renew a code in time may result in a parent becoming ineligible to access the working parent entitlement.

Apply for working parent entitlement (opens new window)

Visit the Childcare Choices (opens new window) website for more information. This includes a childcare calculator to find out which childcare funding schemes would best suit your circumstances.

The working parent entitlement childcare offer is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream), additional hours or additional activities (such as trips). Providers may charge a fee for these additions. If you choose to pay for these it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider. However, you must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a working parent entitlement place, and must be offered alternative options.