Using your entitlements

The 15 hours entitlement is for a total of 570 hours, which works out as 15 hours a week over 38 weeks of the year. However, your provider may agree to 'stretch' your entitlement by using fewer hours over more than 38 weeks per year. It is not possible to 'condense' your hours and use more than 15 hours in a week, but you don't have to use your full entitlement if you don't want to.

You are not able to use the hours covered under the entitlements for a nanny or a home carer.
However, many nannies choose to register on the Voluntary part of the General Childcare Register. If your nanny has done this, then they are classed as eligible childcare providers for the purposes of Tax-Free Childcare, though you cannot use the 15 hours funding for nannies.

Tax-Free Childcare can be used to help pay for any additional hours above the hours you are claiming through your entitlements. It can also be used to pay for certain additional services that are charged by your provider. You pay into the account, and HMRC will top up this amount by 20%, up to a value of £2,000 per year.

If you wish to start using the entitlements from 1 September rather than 1 April, then you can apply closer to that time; provided you still meet the eligibility criteria at that time, you will not lose your ability to apply.

We are currently working to prepare for the expansion of the entitlements for eligible working parents of children aged from 9 months and above, which will come into force in September 2024. We will provide further updates in due course.