Funded Childcare in Dudley: How to Get Your 15 and 30 Free Hours

If you’re raising a family in Dudley borough – whether you’re in Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford, Sedgley, Lye or Netherton – you could be entitled to hundreds of hours of free childcare each year. The government’s funded childcare scheme is administered locally by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and helps families across the Black Country access high-quality early education without paying a penny for those hours.

Dudley isn’t dominated by one centre. It’s a borough of distinctive towns, and nursery provision varies from area to area. This guide covers exactly what’s available, who qualifies, how to apply through Dudley Council, and where to find nurseries near you that accept funded places.

What Funded Childcare Is Available Across Dudley Borough?

Universal 15 Hours for All 3 and 4 Year Olds

Every child in the Dudley borough is entitled to 15 hours of funded early education per week (570 hours per year) from the term after their third birthday. This applies to families in every part of the borough – from Wollaston and Oldswinford to Pensnett and Coseley. It doesn’t matter how much you earn or whether you work. No code is needed; contact your chosen nursery, childminder or pre-school directly.

30 Hours for Working Parents of 3 and 4 Year Olds

Working parents can claim an additional 15 hours on top, giving 30 hours per week. Dudley Council calls this the “Extra time for threes and fours” entitlement. That’s 1,140 hours per year – taken over 38 weeks of term time, or stretched across more weeks if your nursery in Stourbridge, Halesowen or Brierley Hill offers it.

Time for Twos: 15 Hours for Eligible 2 Year Olds

Dudley’s funded 2-year-old scheme is called “Time for Twos.” If your family receives certain benefits – such as Universal Credit with a household income of £15,400 or less after tax, income-based JSA, or Income Support – your child can access 15 hours of free childcare from the term after their second birthday. Children with an EHC plan, those receiving DLA, and looked-after children also qualify. You can apply as soon as your child turns two.

30 Hours from 9 Months for Working Parents (Since September 2025)

Since September 2025, eligible working parents across Dudley with children aged 9 months and over can access 30 hours of funded childcare per week. This major national expansion could save families up to £7,500 per year per child – a significant boost for working families in areas like Halesowen, Dudley town centre and the surrounding villages.

Eligibility: Do You Qualify in Dudley?

For working parent entitlements, each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage (roughly £195 per week from April 2025). Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 per year. Self-employed parents, those on zero-hours contracts, and parents on maternity, paternity or adoption leave who plan to return to work all qualify. In a couple, both parents must meet the criteria.

For the universal 15 hours for 3 and 4 year olds, there are no work or income requirements.

For Time for Twos, eligibility depends on receiving qualifying benefits or your child having particular needs. If you’re unsure, the Dudley Early Help and Family Information Service can check for you.

How to Apply Through Dudley Council

Working Parent Entitlements (30 Hours / Extended Hours)

Apply online through HMRC’s Childcare Service at gov.uk. You’ll need your National Insurance number and Government Gateway login. Once approved, you receive an 11-digit eligibility code to give to your nursery alongside your NI number and child’s date of birth. Reconfirm every 3 months to keep receiving hours. Apply by 31 August for September, 31 December for January, or 31 March for April.

Time for Twos in Dudley

Apply as soon as your child turns two. Visit the Dudley Council website at dudley.gov.uk or contact the Early Help and Family Information Service. You’ll receive a confirmation letter to show your provider. The funded place runs for three terms until your child moves onto the 3-year-old entitlement.

Universal 15 Hours

No code or application needed. Contact your preferred Ofsted-registered nursery, childminder or pre-school anywhere in the Dudley borough.

Dudley’s Family Hubs: Local Support Near You

Dudley’s Family Hub network includes five hubs, each offering support, advice, Stay and Play sessions, health visiting and early years guidance. If you’re unsure about your childcare options, these are a great starting point:

Stourbridge Family Hub – Forge Road, Stourbridge DY8 1XF (01384 818780). The Greenfield Nursery is based here, offering funded places for children over 2 including Time for Twos.

Brierley Hill Family Hub – 18 Parkes Street, Brierley Hill DY5 3DY (01384 813322). Close to Merry Hill Shopping Centre, this hub runs Talking Tots sessions for 2 year olds and Stay and Play for under 5s.

Lye Family Hub – Lye By-Pass, Stourbridge DY9 8HT (01384 813954).

Coseley Family Hub – Bayer Street, Bilston WV14 9DS (01384 813096).

Dudley Family Hub – Selborne Road, Dudley DY2 8LJ (01384 812440).

All hubs are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. They can connect you with the Early Years team, health visitors, and local nursery providers across the borough.

Finding Nurseries Across Dudley Borough

Nursery provision spans the whole borough. In Stourbridge and the south-west, you’ll find nurseries in Wollaston, Oldswinford, Amblecote and Norton. Around Brierley Hill, providers serve families from Pensnett, Kingswinford, Wordsley and the Merry Hill area. Halesowen in the south has nurseries covering Cradley Heath, Blackheath and Hasbury. Dudley town centre, Sedgley, Netherton, Coseley and Gornal all have their own clusters of childcare providers.

You can split your funded hours across up to two providers per day. Some nurseries offer stretched hours across 52 weeks rather than the standard 38-week term-time pattern – ask your provider directly.

The Dudley Council Early Help and Family Information Service Directory at dudley.gov.uk/childcare lists childminders, day nurseries, playgroups and after-school clubs across every area of the borough.

On BookAllCare, you can search specifically for Ofsted-registered nurseries in Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill that accept funded places – compare settings, read key details and send free enquiries.

Combining Funded Hours with Other Support

You can use your 15 or 30 funded hours alongside Tax-Free Childcare (the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000 per child per year). Parents on Universal Credit can claim back up to 85% of childcare costs. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare at the same time. The Childcare Choices calculator at childcarechoices.gov.uk helps you compare.

Key Dates for Dudley Parents

Funded places start at the beginning of the term after your child reaches the eligible age: 1 January for autumn-born children (September–December), 1 April for winter-born children (January–March), and 1 September for spring/summer-born children (April–August). For working parent codes, apply and have your code validated before the term starts.

If you become unemployed, a grace period of up to six weeks lets your child keep accessing extended hours while you look for work. After the grace period, entitlement reverts to the universal 15 hours.

Find Your Perfect Nursery on BookAllCare

Looking for a nursery in Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen or Brierley Hill that accepts funded childcare places? BookAllCare makes it easy to search and compare Ofsted-registered nurseries across every area of the Dudley borough. Filter by location, check key details, and send free enquiries to find the right setting for your family.

Browse nurseries now at bookallcare.com – it’s completely free for parents to search, compare and enquire.

— Nanny Marj

Nanny Marj’s Memos – Your trusted guide to childcare in the West Midlands