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I am looking for childcare for young children

Quick links Childcare options - find out about different types of childcare for young children Finding and choosing childcare - tips and suggestions to help you to find the childcare you need for your family

Frequently asked questions

My child is three and I understand they are entitled to free childcare. How do I find out about it?

All children in England from the age of 3 are entitled to at least 15 hours per week of free early education. They will become eligible for this in the school term following their third birthday. The free early years entitlement can be used over 3 days per week for 5 hours per day, or over 5 days a week for 3 hours per day for at least 38 weeks of the year. You can use your free place at a nursery, pre-school, children's centre or with a childminder (if they are part of an accredited network).

In Wales, free part-time places are available for all 3- and 4-year-olds for 10 hours a week. You can use the free early years places 5 days per week for 2 hours per day.

For more information, and to find which providers in your area offer the free entitlement, contact your Family Information Service (FIS) at your local authority. You can get contact details for your local FIS in England by using this 'Find your FIS' function or searching in your local phone book. For details of your local FIS in Wales, contact 0300 123 7777. You can also download our factsheets 'Free early education for 3- and 4- year olds in England' and 'General help with childcare costs in Wales'.

I already receive Working Tax Credit to help pay for my son's childminder. I asked her if the fees would be reduced now that my son is three and eligible for an early education place, but she says she doesn't provide these. Why is this?

While it is possible for you to get help with your childminder fees from Working Tax Credit, you may not to be able to claim your child's free early years education place from them.

To be able to offer free early education places, your childminder must be registered with Ofsted or CSSIW and be a member of an accredited network. For more information about such a network, visit www.ncmaccf.org.uk.

If your childminder is not willing or able to consider joining a network, you could consider taking up the free place at another setting and asking your childminder to collect/drop off your child and then offer the remaining hours you need. Your Family Information Service should be able to tell you about the childcare providers in your area who are offering free early years education places. You can get contact details for your local Family Information Service by using this 'Find your FIS' function or searching in your local phone book. For details of your local FIS in Wales, contact 0300 123 7777.   

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