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Funded early education
The following pages offer advice and guidance of childcare support and the funded early education places available in Barking & Dagenham.
Childcare entitlements for working parents – what you can get?
Working parents may be able to claim 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until school age. We recommend you apply in good time, as some parents may need to provide additional information. if you’re eligible, you will be given an 11 digit eligibility code which you must take to your chosen childcare provider.
It is your responsibility to reconfirm your working parents code every three months – HMRC should email you four weeks before the deadline to log on to your childcare service account to do this.
If you have questions about working family's eligibility, please contact the HMRC Childcare Customer Interaction Centre on 0300 123 4097.
To Apply
Childcare & Early Years Education | Best Start in Life
Keep your login details in a safe place as you will need them to access your account to reconfirm!
The Best Start in Life website offers information and practical support for every stage of your child’s early years, from pregnancy to school. You can also sign up for weekly emails and/or newsletters to stay informed with the latest news, updates and announcements about government support available to parents.
Find a childcare provider
Please visit our directory for a list of Barking and Dagenham Ofsted-registered providers:
Foster Parents
Foster Parents may be eligible for children in foster care if it is consistent with the child’s care plan and you and your partner (if any) are working outside your fostering role. You should start by discussing this with your social worker: foster carers may claim for their fostered children (PDF, 544KB)
Eligibility dates for working parents funded childcare
| A child must have reached either 9 months, 2 years or 3 years and obtained a code by : | Date child is eligible for funding from: | Recommended time to apply: |
|---|---|---|
| 31 December | 1 January (Spring term) | 15 October to 30 November |
| 31 March | 1 April (Summer term) | 15 January to 28 February |
| 31 August | 1 September (Autumn term) | 15 June to 31 July |
If you are no longer eligible
If your circumstances change and you fall out of eligibility, you will enter a grace period until the start of the next funding period. If your circumstances change during the grace period where you are eligible again, you can reapply again to continue receiving the extended hours.
- Families no longer eligible after their grace period ends will still be able to receive the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds. 2-year-olds may be entitled to 15 hours of free early education if you start claiming an income-based benefit. Please see 2-year-olds – For families receiving some additional forms of government support
- Working parents are also likely to be eligible for Tax free childcare
- Working families claiming Universal Credit may be able to claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs. Upfront childcare costs may also be available to eligible parents moving in to work or increasing hours. Help paying for childcare: Universal Credit and childcare - GOV.UK