Key Facts

We want all children in Newcastle to benefit from high quality childcare and early education. 

• Childcare can give your child a great start in life
• Playing and exploring will help your child learn lots of new skills such as speaking, listening and counting
• You'll have time to work, train or just time for yourself

Every child is entitled to some free childcare before they start school, for instance all three-and-four-year-olds are entitled to at least 15 hours per week (for 38 weeks per year). How much and when varies according to your child’s age and your circumstances. 

Some children of working parents will be eligible for free childcare from as young as nine months old.  

In addition, you can receive some support to reduce the cost of childcare fees for instance through Tax-Free Childcare, Tax Credits, Universal Credit or Student Support. We hope this guide helps.

The vast majority of childcare in Newcastle is judged Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.  You can choose a childminder, school, pre-school playgroup or day nursery either term time or all year-round whatever suits your family’s needs.

You can also get extra support and funding if your child has additional needs or a disability.

This guide should help you find out what you may be entitled to. Throughout the guide we use the term childcare to mean all early education and childcare and the term provider to refer to all types of childcare or school. 

What is free childcare for under fives?

Free childcare refers to the 15 or 30 hours per week that families may be eligible for through the routes we will explain. This can be from as young as 9 months for working parents until they are five years old and in school. The government funds these hours over 38 weeks of the year in the same way they fund school places (and we call this term time). If you want hours over more than 38 weeks, please discuss this with your provider, as several providers in Newcastle offer these hours stretched.  

While we use the term free, we recognise that there may be optional extras that parents choose whether to pay for, such as extra hours, meals or activities. However, no parent should be charged a “top-up” charge if they just want to access their free hours.  But remember settings may have set session lengths. If this length is 5 hours for each child, they may not be able to offer you 4 hours, but you must always have the option of paying no extra charges. Some providers will have waiting lists for places. 

When is my child eligible and when can I apply?

Irrespective of the funding route you are applying or eligible for, your child becomes eligible the term AFTER they reach that age. See tables below:

*This refers to two-,three-and-four-year-olds.

If your child is eligible from nine months old, the table below may help: 

If you are on maternity, paternity or parental leave or starting a new job, the starting term for the child you are on parental leave for, is based on when you return or start work. See table for application dates on:

Where can you use your free childcare?

You can use any Ofsted registered provider:

• Childminder
• Pre-school playgroup
• Day nursery
• Nursery school or nursery class in a school (including some independent schools)
• Some out of school clubs

For a full list visit www.newcastlechildcare.org.uk/      

How can you use your free childcare?

You can use childcare at times that suit you. Some providers are more flexible, for instance a childminder, who might offer weekends or after 6pm. Others offer hours in 3- or 5-hour sessions within the following limits:

• No more than 10 hours a day   
• Not before 6am or after 8pm
• Up to 3 different providers but no more than 2 sites per day 

You should discuss with your childcare provider:

• How they offer the hours
• How you can take the free hours only
• Availability of a place
• If you want to pay for extra hours
• If there are any charges for optional extras such as food etc

What about the school holidays?

Some providers are open all year round and you can discuss with them “stretching” your free hours over more weeks of the year. For instance, if you are entitled to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks this is 570 hours a year or approximately 11 hours if taken over 51 weeks.