If your child is three or four years old, you’re entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time — and if you have a two-year-old and meet the income criteria, 15 hours may be available from the term after their second birthday. This is one of the most significant pieces of support available to working parents in England, and in Aylesbury, ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School is registered to offer it.
Here’s what parents ask us most often about the 30 hours entitlement — and what you need to know before applying.
Who Qualifies for 30 Hours Free Childcare?
The 30 hours entitlement is available to families where both parents (or the single parent, in a single-parent household) are working and each earning the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Living Wage — currently around £183 per week. There’s an upper income threshold of £100,000 adjusted net income per parent.
If you’re self-employed, on parental leave, or temporarily not working but expect to be working soon, you may still qualify — the government’s Childcare Choices website has a calculator that will tell you in under two minutes.
For children aged three and four, 15 hours of free childcare is available to all families regardless of income. The additional 15 hours (making 30 in total) is the means-tested element.
How Do I Apply?
You apply through HMRC’s Childcare Service at childcare.gov.uk. Once approved, you’ll receive an 11-digit eligibility code to share with your nursery. Applications must be reconfirmed every three months — if you miss a reconfirmation window, your entitlement may lapse, so put a reminder in your calendar.
Apply before the term starts. The cut-off dates are:
- September term: apply by 31 August
- January term: apply by 31 December
- April term: apply by 31 March
If you’re starting at ME Montessori in September 2026, apply now — the process typically takes a few days but can occasionally take longer if HMRC needs additional information.
How Does the 30 Hours Work at ME Montessori?
At ME Montessori Nursery Aylesbury, we offer the full 30-hour entitlement for eligible three and four year olds. We can discuss session patterns that make the most of your funded hours while fitting around your family’s schedule.
The funded hours cover core sessions. Any additional hours, meals, or consumables outside the funded entitlement are charged separately — we’ll give you a clear breakdown so there are no surprises.
Is Funded Childcare Available for Two-Year-Olds?
From April 2024, the government began extending funded hours to younger children. From September 2025, 15 hours is available for eligible two-year-olds — and from September 2026, working parents of children from nine months old will qualify for 15 hours. This is a significant expansion that many families don’t yet know about.
If your child turns two before 31 March 2026, they may be eligible from the summer term. Check your eligibility at childcare.gov.uk and speak to us about available spaces.
For local families comparing options, see our funded childcare hours and nursery fees. ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School is based at Bedgrove Community Centre, Ambleside, Aylesbury HP21 9TT.
Ready to Talk?
If you have questions about how the 30 hours entitlement works at ME Montessori, or you’d like to discuss places for September 2026, we’d love to hear from you.
Call us on 07873 403672, email [email protected], or visit us at Bedgrove Community Centre, Bedgrove Park, Ambleside, Aylesbury, HP21 9TT.
