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Working parents in England qualify for two funding streams: the 30-Hours Free Childcare entitlement and Tax-Free Childcare.
The 30-Hours Entitlement provides 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time (38 weeks). Both parents must be working and earning at least £8,670 per year, with neither earning over £100,000. Funding becomes effective in the term after your child's third birthday.
Tax-Free Childcare adds £2 for every £8 you pay into your childcare account—up to £2,000 per child per year. This can be used alongside 30-Hours to cover additional sessions.
If you qualify for 30-Hours, you automatically qualify for Tax-Free Childcare. OurTax-Free Childcare guide explains how to use your account effectively including payment timing, quarterly caps, and a critical warning about Universal Credit compatibility.
At Snowflakes, we help working parents maximise their government funding. We also accept 15-hour funding for eligible 2-year-olds.
Funding for 2-Year-Olds:
Your child may qualify if:
Children with special needs may qualify through different routes—see our SEND Funding guide.
Check eligibility through Ealing Family Directory or call them on 020 8825 5588.
Your actual weekly cost depends on how many hours you need, which funding you qualify for, and whether you choose stretched or term-time hours.
The Snowflakes Funding Calculator shows your real cost after all entitlements are applied. Enter your child's age, required sessions, and funding status to see exactly what you'll pay.
Stretched funding spreads your 30 hours across 52 weeks (~22 hours per week), giving year-round coverage.
Term-time funding concentrates hours into 38 weeks, meaning full rates during holidays.
Calculator Tool Coming Soon - In the meantime, please contact us for a personalised calculation
The unfortunate reality of government funding is that it has to go through a chain of government bodies before we claim the funding on your behalf. The Department for Education allocates money to Ealing Council, which distributes it to nurseries based on verified attendance.
When you give us your 11-digit eligibility code, we validate it through the Council's system. This process checks your code against the government database.
This typically, is why we ask for your code a minimum two weeks before term starts.
If validation fails, it's usually because:
Apply the term before you need your place. Codes take up to 4 weeks to process, and you must have a valid code before term starts.
