30 Hours Free Childcare in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall & Stoke-on-Trent: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

What Is 30 Hours Free Childcare?

The 30 hours free childcare scheme is a government-funded entitlement designed to help working families in England with the cost of early years education and care. It represents one of the largest childcare investments in UK history, with government spending roughly doubling from around £4 billion to £8 billion per year.

From September 2025, the scheme expanded significantly. Previously, 30 funded hours were only available for 3 and 4-year-olds of working parents. Now, eligible families can access the full 30 hours from the term after their child turns 9 months old, continuing all the way through to when they start reception class.

Key Fact: You receive 30 hours per week over 38 weeks of term time (1,140 hours per year). Many nurseries across Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Stoke-on-Trent also offer a “stretched” model — spreading your hours across up to 52 weeks, for example approximately 22 hours per week year-round instead of 30 hours in term time only.

The hours must be used with an Ofsted-registered provider such as a nursery, pre-school, or childminder. Providers may charge for extras like meals, nappies, and optional activities, but they cannot charge top-up fees to cover the gap between their normal rate and the government funding they receive. Any additional charges should be clearly itemised on your invoice.

Who Qualifies? Eligibility Criteria Explained

Eligibility is based on your employment status, income level, and your child’s age. The criteria are the same across England, including for families in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Stoke-on-Trent.

Employment Requirements

Both parents in a two-parent household (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) must be working and living in England. You may also qualify if you or your partner are:

• Employed, self-employed, or on a zero-hours contract
• On maternity, paternity, shared parental, or adoption leave
• On statutory sick pay or annual leave
• Starting a new job within 31 days of the term start date

You may also be eligible if one parent works and the other receives specific benefits due to disability, incapacity, or substantial caring responsibilities.

Income Requirements

Each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage. From April 2025, the thresholds are:

You don’t need to actually work 16 hours — it’s your earnings that count. If you hold multiple jobs, your combined income counts towards the minimum threshold.

Tip: The £100,000 cap applies to each parent’s “adjusted net income” — your total taxable income minus pension contributions and certain deductions. If you’re near the threshold, increasing pension contributions (particularly via salary sacrifice) could keep your adjusted net income below £100,000 and preserve your eligibility.

Child’s Age

Your child is eligible from the term after they turn 9 months old until they start reception class. The three term start dates are 1 January, 1 April, and 1 September.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Families where neither parent is working (unless one qualifies through disability or carer benefits)
• Parents with adjusted net income above £100,000
• Families not resident in England (separate schemes exist in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
• Non-working full-time students (though other childcare support may be available)

15 Hours vs 30 Hours: Which Are You Entitled To?

The UK’s funded childcare system has several tiers. Understanding which one applies to your family ensures you don’t miss out on support you’re entitled to.

Good to Know: The universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds requires no application — your nursery handles it automatically. You simply show them your child’s birth certificate. The 30-hour working parent entitlement and the disadvantaged 2-year-old scheme both require separate applications.

How to Apply for 30 Hours Free Childcare: Step-by-Step

Applying is done online through the government’s childcare service. The process is the same whether you live in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, or Stoke-on-Trent.

1. Check your eligibility — Visit the Best Start in Life website (beststartinlife.gov.uk) to use the eligibility checker. This takes about 5 minutes and confirms whether you and your partner meet the income and employment criteria.
2. Gather your documents — You’ll need your National Insurance number, employer details (or self-employment information), and your child’s UK birth certificate reference number. If you have a partner, gather their details too.
3. Apply online via GOV.UK — Sign in or create a childcare account at gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working using your Government Gateway user ID. The application takes about 20 minutes. You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old.
4. Receive your 11-digit eligibility code — If eligible, HMRC will issue your code. In most cases this happens immediately, though it may take longer if additional checks are required.
5. Share the code with your nursery — Give the 11-digit code, your National Insurance number, and your child’s date of birth to your chosen Ofsted-registered provider. They’ll verify it with your local council.
6. Reconfirm every 3 months — Log into your childcare account quarterly to confirm your details are up to date. You’ll receive reminder messages — don’t ignore them, or your funded hours will stop.

Already Receiving 15 Hours?: If you’ve been claiming 15 funded hours and now qualify for 30, you don’t need to start a new application. Simply reconfirm as normal — if still eligible, your existing code can be used for the full 30 hours. Speak with your nursery in advance to arrange the additional hours.

Key Application Deadlines

Funded hours begin from the start of the term after your child reaches the eligible age — but only if you’ve applied and received your code before the term starts. Miss the deadline and you’ll have to wait until the following term.

Recommendation: The government advises applying at least 6 weeks before the deadline. Some nurseries may also request your code earlier than the official deadline, so speak with your chosen provider well in advance to understand their timescales.

Finding Funded Nursery Places in Your Area

The 30-hour scheme is available at any Ofsted-registered nursery, pre-school, or childminder across England. Below is a local guide for each of the four areas covered in this article, including council contacts, NHS partnerships, and tips for finding places.

Dudley

Covering Dudley town centre, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford, and Sedgley, the Dudley borough has 130+ Ofsted-registered early years providers.

Dudley borough has seen a steady rise in demand for early years places, particularly in Stourbridge and Halesowen. The council works closely with Ofsted-registered providers to ensure sufficient funded places are available across the borough, including in more rural areas around Kingswinford and Sedgley.

• Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council — Family Information Service: 01384 814398
• Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust — NHS staff can access childcare signposting through BookAllCare

Local Tip: Dudley’s Family Information Service can provide a personalised list of nurseries and childminders with funded places near your postcode. They also maintain an online directory that lets you filter providers by funding type.

Find nurseries in Dudley: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/dudley

Wolverhampton

Covering Wolverhampton city centre, Bilston, Wednesfield, Tettenhall, Penn, and Bushbury, the city has 120+ Ofsted-registered early years providers.

Wolverhampton has been at the forefront of the childcare expansion in the West Midlands, with strong partnerships between the council, NHS Trust, and local nursery providers. BookAllCare works directly with NHS Wolverhampton to signpost staff towards emergency and routine childcare solutions, making it easier for key workers to access funded places.

• City of Wolverhampton Council — Family Information Service: 01902 555392
• Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust — Formal childcare signposting partnership with BookAllCare

Local Tip: If you work for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, ask your HR department about the childcare signposting partnership with BookAllCare for priority access to nursery availability information.

Find nurseries in Wolverhampton: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/wolverhampton

Walsall

Covering Walsall town centre, Bloxwich, Aldridge, Brownhills, Willenhall, and Darlaston, the borough has 110+ Ofsted-registered early years providers.

Walsall borough has a strong network of nurseries and childminders serving families from Bloxwich in the north to Darlaston in the south. The council’s early years team has been proactive in supporting providers through the funding expansion, and BookAllCare partners with NHS Walsall to help healthcare workers find childcare that fits shift patterns.

• Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council — Family Information Service: 01922 653554
• Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust — Childcare signposting partnership with BookAllCare

Local Tip: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust staff can access BookAllCare’s childcare signposting service for help finding nurseries with flexible hours that accommodate shift work and weekend availability.

Find nurseries in Walsall: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/walsall

Stoke-on-Trent

Covering the six towns of Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton, Stoke, and Fenton, the city has 100+ Ofsted-registered early years providers.

Stoke-on-Trent, with its six historic towns, has a growing number of Ofsted-registered nurseries and childminders offering funded places. The city council has focused on reducing childcare deserts in areas like Tunstall and Burslem, ensuring families across all six towns have access to quality early years provision within a reasonable distance.

• Stoke-on-Trent City Council — Family Information Service: 01782 232200
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust — NHS staff can access BookAllCare for childcare signposting

Local Tip: Stoke-on-Trent City Council publishes a regularly updated list of providers with funded place vacancies. Contact their Family Information Service for the latest availability, or search on BookAllCare for real-time updates.

Find nurseries in Stoke-on-Trent: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/stoke-on-trent

Quick Reference: Local Council Contacts

Other Childcare Funding You Can Combine

The 30-hour entitlement isn’t the only support available. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to layer additional help to reduce your childcare costs even further.

Tax-Free Childcare

For every £8 you pay into your Tax-Free Childcare account, the government adds £2 — up to £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children). You can use Tax-Free Childcare alongside your 30 funded hours to cover additional hours or extras like meals. Apply through the same GOV.UK childcare account.

Universal Credit Childcare Element

If you’re on Universal Credit, you may claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs. However, you cannot use Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare for the same child simultaneously. Use the GOV.UK childcare calculator (gov.uk/childcare-calculator) to determine which option saves you more.

Disability Access Fund (DAF)

If your child receives Disability Living Allowance and accesses any funded entitlement hours, your nursery may receive a one-off payment of £938 per year (2025/26 rate) through the DAF. This helps providers make reasonable adjustments for your child.

Maximise Your Savings: Many parents don’t realise they can combine 30 funded hours with Tax-Free Childcare. For a child attending nursery full-time, using both schemes together could save over £9,000 per year compared to paying entirely out of pocket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I split my 30 hours across two different nurseries?

Yes. You can split your funded hours across up to two providers. Give your eligibility code to both nurseries and agree with each how many hours your child will attend at their setting.

What happens if I lose my job or my income changes?

If your circumstances change and you’re no longer eligible, a grace period applies — typically lasting until the end of the current term. After the grace period, you’d revert to the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds (if applicable).

I’m self-employed. Can I still qualify?

Absolutely. Self-employed parents qualify on the same income basis. If your business is less than 12 months old, you’re exempt from the minimum earnings threshold during that start-up period — you just need to expect to earn at least the minimum over the coming tax year.

What if my nursery charges a top-up fee?

Providers are not permitted to charge top-up fees — they cannot charge you the difference between their normal rate and the government funding rate. They can charge for meals, consumables (nappies, sun cream), and optional extras like trips or specialist activities. These should be clearly itemised and optional where possible.

Can I use my funded hours during school holidays?

The 30 hours are calculated over 38 weeks of term time. However, many nurseries across Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Stoke-on-Trent offer a “stretched” model, spreading the total 1,140 annual hours over more weeks (e.g., 22 hours per week across 51 weeks). Ask your provider whether they offer stretched entitlement.

I missed the application deadline. What can I do?

If you miss the deadline, you’ll need to wait until the following term to start receiving funded hours. Apply as soon as possible so you’re ready for the next term. If a technical issue on the government system caused the delay, you may be eligible for compensation — contact the Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097.

Do I need to reapply every year?

No full reapplication is required, but you must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months through your GOV.UK childcare account. Failing to reconfirm will cause your funded hours to stop.

I disagree with the eligibility decision. Can I appeal?

Yes. If you believe the decision is incorrect, you can appeal by calling HMRC on 0300 123 4097.

Where can I find a nursery that accepts funded hours near me?

Use BookAllCare to search for Ofsted-registered nurseries in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Stoke-on-Trent. You can filter by funding options, check real-time availability, and compare providers — completely free for parents.

Ready to Find a Funded Nursery Near You?

Search Ofsted-registered nurseries across Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Stoke-on-Trent. Filter by funding options, check availability, and compare providers — completely free for parents.

Dudley: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/dudley

Wolverhampton: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/wolverhampton

Walsall: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/walsall

Stoke-on-Trent: www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/stoke-on-trent

Need help? Contact us at hello@bookallcare.com

About BookAllCare

BookAllCare is a free childcare marketplace helping parents find and book Ofsted-registered nurseries across the West Midlands and Stoke-on-Trent. We partner with NHS Trusts in Wolverhampton and Walsall, and work with local authorities to make finding quality childcare easier for families.

This article is for general information purposes and was last updated in March 2026. Eligibility criteria and funding rates are set by the UK Government and may change. Always verify your eligibility through the official GOV.UK childcare service at gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working.