Summary: Since September 2025, eligible working parents in England can access 30 hours of government-funded childcare per week — saving up to £7,500 per child per year. This guide covers everything parents in Sandwell (including West Bromwich, Smethwick, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Tipton, and Wednesbury) need to know about eligibility, how to apply, and where to find funded nursery places locally.
The 30 hours free childcare scheme is a government-funded entitlement that helps 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 in Sandwell also offer a “stretched” model, spreading hours across up to 52 weeks — for example, approximately 22 hours per week year-round.
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.
Eligibility is based on your employment status, income, and your child’s age. The criteria are the same across England, including for families in Sandwell and the wider area.
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:
You may also be eligible if one parent works and the other receives specific benefits due to disability, incapacity, or substantial caring responsibilities.
Each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage. From April 2025, the thresholds are:
|
Criteria |
Threshold |
|---|---|
|
Minimum earnings (per parent) |
£195/week or £10,158/year |
|
Maximum earnings (per parent) |
£100,000 adjusted net income |
|
Self-employed (new business <12 months) |
Exempt from minimum for first year |
You don’t need to actually work 16 hours — it’s your earnings that matter. If you have multiple jobs, your combined income counts towards the minimum threshold.
Tip: The £100,000 cap applies to “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.
Your child is eligible from the term after they turn 9 months old until they start reception class. Term start dates are 1 January, 1 April, and 1 September.
The UK’s funded childcare system has several tiers. Understanding which applies to your family ensures you don’t miss out.
|
Entitlement |
Who Qualifies |
Age Range |
|---|---|---|
|
15 hours (universal) |
All families — no income or work requirements |
3 and 4-year-olds |
|
15 hours (disadvantaged) |
Families on UC earning <£15,400/yr, or child has EHCP / is looked after |
2-year-olds |
|
30 hours (working families) |
Both parents working, £10,158–£100,000 each/year |
9 months to school age |
Good to Know: The universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds requires no application — your nursery handles it automatically. You just show them your child’s birth certificate. The 30-hour and disadvantaged 2-year-old entitlements require separate applications.
Applying is done online through the government’s childcare service. Here’s the process for parents in Sandwell.
Already Receiving 15 Hours?: If you’ve been claiming 15 funded hours and now qualify for 30, you don’t need a new application. Simply reconfirm as normal — if still eligible, your existing code works for the full 30 hours. Speak with your Sandwell nursery to arrange the additional hours.
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 wait until the following term.
|
Term |
Hours Start From |
Apply By |
|---|---|---|
|
Spring Term |
January |
31 December (previous year) |
|
Summer Term |
April |
31 March |
|
Autumn Term |
September |
31 August |
Recommendation: The government advises applying at least 6 weeks before the deadline. Some nurseries in Sandwell may request your code earlier than the official deadline, so speak with your chosen provider well in advance.
The 30-hour scheme is available at any Ofsted-registered nursery, pre-school, or childminder in Sandwell. The borough has 150+ registered early years providers across West Bromwich, Smethwick, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Tipton, and Wednesbury.
Sandwell is one of the most diverse boroughs in the West Midlands, with a high proportion of young families. The borough has invested significantly in early years provision, and its Family Hubs provide additional support for parents navigating childcare options alongside health visiting and parenting programmes.
Local Tip: Sandwell Council runs regular drop-in sessions at its Family Hubs where parents can get face-to-face help with childcare funding applications. Check with your nearest hub for session dates.
Use BookAllCare to search for Ofsted-registered nurseries across Sandwell, filter by funding options (including 30-hour funded places), check real-time availability, and compare providers — all completely free for parents.
Search now: https://www.bookallcare.com/nurseries/sandwell
The 30-hour entitlement isn’t the only support available. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to layer additional help to reduce costs further.
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 this alongside your 30 funded hours to cover additional hours or extras. Apply through the same GOV.UK childcare account.
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 to determine which option saves you more.
If your child receives Disability Living Allowance and accesses funded entitlement hours, your nursery may receive a one-off payment of £938 per year (2025/26 rate) through the DAF, helping providers make reasonable adjustments.
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.
Yes. You can split 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.
If your circumstances change and you’re no longer eligible, a grace period applies — typically lasting until the end of the current term. After that, you’d revert to the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds (if applicable).
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.
Providers are not permitted to charge top-up fees — they cannot charge the difference between their normal rate and the funding rate. They can charge for meals, consumables (nappies, sun cream), and optional extras. These should be clearly itemised.
The 30 hours are calculated over 38 weeks of term time. However, many nurseries in Sandwell offer a “stretched” model, spreading the 1,140 annual hours over more weeks (e.g., 22 hours/week across 51 weeks). Ask your provider if they offer this.
If you miss the deadline, you’ll need to wait until the following term. Apply as soon as possible so you’re ready next time. If a technical issue on the government system caused the delay, you may be eligible for compensation — call the Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097.
No full reapplication is needed, but you must reconfirm eligibility every 3 months through your GOV.UK childcare account. Failure to reconfirm will stop your funded hours.
Yes. Call HMRC on 0300 123 4097 to appeal.
Ready to Find a Funded Nursery in Sandwell?
Search Ofsted-registered nurseries across West Bromwich, Smethwick, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Tipton, and Wednesbury — filter by funding options, check availability, and compare providers. Completely free for parents.
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