Working parent entitlement - Providers
This page is for childcare providers; if you are a parent view our parents' information page.
The working parent entitlement is the offer of 15 hours per week from 9-months-old and an additional 15 hours on top of the universal entitlement per week for 3 and 4-year-olds. This is available to working parents, full details of the eligibility criteria can be found on Childcare Choices (opens new window).
Children may only start accessing the working parent entitlement from the term following their birthday (or when they turn 9-months-old) AND the term following receipt of their eligibility code from HMRC, whichever is later. For the purpose of this funding, terms are defined as:
- Autumn Term : 1 September - 31 December
- Spring Term: 1 January - 31 March
- Summer Term: 1 April - 31 August
Parents are encouraged to apply to HMRC's Childcare Service in the term before their child birthday in order to access a place in the term following their child's birthday. The Code's start date only confirms that the child meets the income requirements as at that date - Childcare Providers must check the child's date of birth to decide with the extended entitlement can start.
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 extended entitlement.
| Birthday | When they can access working parent entitlement | Recommended time to apply | Start date of code must be: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | Spring term starting 1 January | 15 October to 30 November | 31 December or before |
| 1 January to 31 March | Summer term starting 1 April | 15 January to 28 February | 31 March or before |
| 1 April to 31 August | Autumn term starting 1 September | 15 June to 31 July | 31 August or before |
On being awarded eligibility, parents are given an 11 digit 'code' which will stay with the child until their reach compulsory school age, regardless of whether they drop in or out of eligibility.
Issues with applications and reconfirmation of codes
Resources to support childcare providers downloads
Break-even point calculation sheet (PDF, 15 KB)(opens new window)
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