Childcare
There are various government schemes that may help families meet the cost of childcare. These include:
Funded childcare for working parents
Early education for two-year-olds for families in receipt of some additional government support
Tax Free Childcare
There is more information on what childcare support is available to parents on the Childcare Choices website, where you can explore the early education entitlements and other government help towards childcare costs.
FUNDED CHILDCARE FOR WORKING PARENTS
What is funded childcare?
Working parents who meet the relevant eligibility criteria may be able to claim government funded childcare for children aged 9 months+ up until they start school (Reception Class).
Currently, eligible working parents can apply for 15 or 30 hours of funded childcare, depending on the age of the child. Children aged 9 months to 2 years could be eligible to 15 hours per week childcare, whereas children aged 3 & 4 could be eligible for up to 30 hours per week. N.B. Children need to have turned 9 months on or before the termly deadlines of 31 August, 31 December or 31 March to be eligible for the respective terms.
From September 2025, the number of entitlement hours changes to 30 hours per weeks for all eligible children from 9+ months to 4 years.
Childcare must be taken up with an approved childcare provider.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible, each parent needs to be working (or about to start work) and be earning the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year. This means that each parent needs to earn from just over £8,600 per year to be eligible.
How to apply
All eligibility codes need to be applied for or re-verified via the Childcare Choices website by the following deadline dates in order to be eligible for the relevant term:
Autumn Term - deadline 31 August to be eligible for a funded place in the term beginning on or after 1 September
Spring Term - deadline 31 December to be eligible for a funded place in the term beginning on or after 1 January
Summer Term - deadline 31 March to be eligible for a funded place in the term beginning on or after 1 April
Please note: The actual local authority terms don't always start on the first of September, January or April. Please visit Together for Children website for Sunderland school term dates.
When can my child take up a place?
Children need to have reached the relevant age (9 months, 2, 3 or 4) by the following dates to be eligible for each respective term:
31 August for the Autumn term beginning on or after 1 September
31 December for the Spring term beginning on or after 1 January
31 March for the Summer term beginning on or after 1 April
Applications for working parent eligibility codes need to be made via the Childcare Choices website. Codes should then be given to the childcare providers of your choice. Please note, eligibility codes will need to be reverified every three months for them to remain valid to claim funded childcare.
EARLY EDUCATION FOR TWO YEAR OLDS - FAMILIES IN RECEIPT OF SOME ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Many families across Sunderland can benefit from funded childcare places for two year olds if they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. Full details of the eligibility criteria can be found on Sunderland Information Point or in the Two Year Old Early Education Funding - Application Guidance document in Related Media.
It is quick and simple to apply online using our Family Portal. Download the Family Portal user guide below which shows you how to log on, create an account and apply online.
To check which childcare providers can offer two year old early education places, visit our childcare directory.
If your child is eligible, you can start claiming funded childcare after your child turns two, depending on when their birthday is (see table above).
UNIVERSAL FUNDED EARLY EDUCATION FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS
15 hours of funded early education entitlement is available to all children aged three and four years old regardless of a family's circumstances as there is no eligibility criteria attached to this offer. This funding is known as Universal hours.
You can start claiming the 15 hours funded childcare in the term after your child turns three, depending on when their birthday is. The same rules apply as for two year old places (see table above).
Details of Ofsted registered childcare providers in Sunderland can also be obtained by visiting our childcare directory or via the Families Information Service on 0191 520 5553.
To access funded early education, please contact the childminder or day nursery of your choice, no eligibility code is required for these places.
TAX FREE CHILDCARE
Tax free childcare is a government initiative for working families, including the self-employed, who have children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled).
You can get up to £500 every three months, up to a maximum of £2,000 a year per child. If your child has a disability, this increases to £1,000 every three months up to a maximum of £4,000 a year per child. If you are eligible, you will need to create a childcare account and for every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2.
You can use your childcare account to pay for childcare provided by:
childminders
nurseries
nannies
before and after school clubs
holiday clubs.
The childcare provider you use must be registered with Ofsted (or a Childminder Agency) and registered with the Tax Free Childcare scheme.
Visit Childcare Choices for more information and for details of how to apply.
The Childcare Directory provides details of Ofsted registered childcare and other services, activities, and events for families.
For more information email our Families Information Service: Fis@togetherforchildren.org.uk
FUNDED CHILDCARE FOR FOSTER CARERS
Extensions have been made to the funded childcare scheme which means that some foster carers could be eligible if they meet certain eligibility criteria. Foster carers need to be working outside of their fostering role in order to qualify. For more information see the attached information or speak to your fostering officer.
Please note: you must have applied for the 30 hour code before the same termly deadlines outlined above. This only applies to children that they care for and NOT for their own children. They would need to apply via Childcare Choices in the normal way for their own children.
DISABILITY ACCESS FUND
The Disability Access Fund (DAF) helps providers to make reasonable adjustments in their settings, either to support an individual child, or for the benefit of all children attending the setting.
A child will be eligible for the funding if they are in receipt of child disability living allowance (DLA) and are receiving funded early education for under 5's. Please note, children will not be eligible if they are in a primary school reception class.
If a child moves settings within the financial year the new setting will not be eligible to receive a payment until the next financial year.
For more information see the Disability Access Fund FAQs document on this page or speak to your childcare provider.
