Universal 15 hours Free Early Years Places for 3 & 4 Year Olds
All eligible 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early year’s provision per week for 38 weeks per year (570 hours per year). Please visit the R&C Information Directory to find out if your child is eligible for a place.
Free Childcare for 2 year olds
If you are in receipt of certain benefits or are on a low income you may be eligible for up to 15 hours funded childcare for your child the term after their second birthday.
If you would like more information on the 2 year old funding please check out our website –Funded Childcare for 2 year olds | Redcar & Cleveland: Information Directory
If you would like to apply for 2 year old funding please following this link: Apply for 2 Year Old Funding | Redcar & Cleveland: Information Directory
You can find details about childcare providers in Redcar & Cleveland who offer funded places on our website: Childcare | Redcar & Cleveland: Information Directory
If you need any help finding childcare – please contact FIS@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or call 01642 444532.
Funded Childcare for Working Families
Working families can now apply for 30 hours funding children aged from 9 months to 4 years old for up to 38 weeks per year.
- You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at your national minimum wage (National Living Wage, less if you are on the National Minimum Wage)
- If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
- Your child can start in their childcare place the term after they turn 2 years old and have received a valid 30 hours code, whichever is later. Term start dates are 1st September, 1stJanuary and 1st April.
- Parents need to apply and have their code validated before the end of each term to qualify for the following term.
- To keep a funded place parents need to reconfirm their details every 3 months with HMRC.
Apply online by visiting: 15 & 30 hours support | Best Start in Life
The 30 hours entitlement can be split amongst providers (childminder/private nursery/school nursery which offer funded places) as long as no more than 2 providers are used each day.
Working Tax Credits
Parents and carers can also get help with childcare costs through the childcare element of working tax credits.
Please visit the gov.uk website for further information about tax credits and childcare.
Tax Free Childcare
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).
If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.
You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.
Please visit the gov.uk website for more information about Tax-Free Childcare.
Child Benefit
Claim Child Benefit as soon as your child is born or comes to live with you. Child Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months - make your claim as soon as possible.
Updated Provider Agreement
An updated provider agreement has been created for Redcar and Cleveland childcare providers following the expansion of Working Families childcare entitlements to 30 hours beginning September 2025.