Funded Childcare in Stoke-on-Trent: Your Complete Guide to Free Hours

Stoke-on-Trent – the Potteries – is a city of six towns, each with its own character: Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton, Fenton and Stoke. And families across all of them can access free childcare and early education. With over 180 providers offering funded places citywide, Stoke-on-Trent has one of the strongest early years networks in the region.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Best Start team manages all funded childcare in the city. Whether you live in Meir, Bentilee, Abbey Hulton, Trentham, Sneyd Green, Middleport or any of the six town centres, here’s everything you need to know to claim your free hours.

What Free Hours Are Available in Stoke-on-Trent?

Universal 15 Hours for 3 and 4 Year Olds

All 3 and 4 year old children in Stoke-on-Trent are entitled to 15 hours of childcare and early learning per week, usually over 38 weeks during school term time. Some Stoke nurseries offer a stretched model – for example, 11 hours per week over 51 weeks. You don’t need to apply or get a code; just contact your chosen provider.

30 Hours for Working Parents of 3 and 4 Year Olds

Working parents may qualify for 30 hours per week. Check eligibility and apply through the Childcare Choices website. You’ll receive an 11-digit code from HMRC to share with your provider.

Free Childcare for Eligible 2 Year Olds

Families in Stoke-on-Trent on qualifying benefits can access 15 hours per week for their 2 year old. To check eligibility and apply, visit stoke.gov.uk/bestart or contact the Best Start team at beststart@stoke.gov.uk or 01782 232200. Once approved, you’ll receive a confirmation letter to show your nursery. Importantly, once your child is approved, the funded place stays in place until they go to school – even if your income changes afterwards.

Two-year-old places in Stoke are mainly delivered through private nurseries, pre-schools and childminders across the six towns, with a small number of schools also offering them. Many providers display signs or banners advertising funded hours.

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

Since September 2025, eligible working parents in Stoke-on-Trent with children from 9 months old can access 30 hours of funded childcare per week. This expansion applies from the term after your child turns 9 months until they start school.

Who Is Eligible in Stoke-on-Trent?

For working parent entitlements, each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage and have individual income below £100,000 per year. Self-employed parents and those on parental leave who plan to return to work also qualify.

For the 2-year-old entitlement, eligibility is based on receiving certain benefits. The Best Start team can help you check. The universal 15 hours for all 3 and 4 year olds has no eligibility requirements beyond age.

How to Apply Through the Best Start Team

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Best Start team is your main point of contact for all funded childcare in the Potteries. Reach them at beststart@stoke.gov.uk or 01782 232200.

Working Parent Entitlements

Apply online through HMRC’s Childcare Service at gov.uk. You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. Once approved, share your 11-digit code with your provider. Reconfirm every 3 months.

2-Year-Old Funded Places

Visit stoke.gov.uk/bestart to check eligibility and apply. You’ll receive a confirmation letter to show your provider. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, email beststart@stoke.gov.uk with your details. If you received a rejection but think you’re eligible, the team can review your case with additional evidence.

Finding Childcare on the Best Start Portal

The Best Start portal at stoke.gov.uk/bestart also lets you search for childcare in your local area – click “find childcare places” to browse nurseries, childminders and pre-schools across Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton, Fenton and Stoke.

Universal 15 Hours

No application needed. Contact your preferred Ofsted-registered provider in any of the six towns.

Finding Nurseries Across the Six Towns

Stoke-on-Trent’s childcare provision spans all six towns and their surrounding suburbs. Hanley, as the commercial centre, has the highest concentration of nurseries. Burslem – the “Mother Town” – Tunstall in the north, and Longton in the south all have well-established providers. Fenton and Stoke town offer smaller but dedicated settings, and suburbs like Meir, Meir Park, Trentham, Bentilee, Abbey Hulton, Sneyd Green and Middleport all have local nurseries and childminders.

You can split your hours across providers and change mid-term if needed – give your current provider at least four weeks’ notice and inform both settings so funding transfers smoothly. A maximum of 10 hours can be used in any single day.

On BookAllCare, you can search for Ofsted-registered nurseries across all areas of Stoke-on-Trent that accept funded places – compare settings and send enquiries for free.

Practical Tips for Stoke-on-Trent Parents

Providers cannot charge mandatory fees for the funded hours, but can charge for optional extras like meals, nappies, sun cream and trips. Make sure you understand what’s included before committing. If your child has regular unexplained absences, your provider may reduce hours or remove the place.

If you’re accessing childcare outside Stoke-on-Trent (for example, in Newcastle-under-Lyme), apply to the local authority where the provider is based, not necessarily your home authority. Contact the Best Start team if you’re unsure.

Combining Funded Hours with Other Support

You can use funded hours alongside Tax-Free Childcare (up to £2,000 per child per year) and Universal Credit childcare support (up to 85% of costs). You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare at the same time.

Visit childcarechoices.gov.uk to compare all available schemes. Parents can also apply for their hours online and get their code through the gov.uk Childcare Service. Reconfirm your details every 3 months to keep receiving support.

Find Your Perfect Nursery on BookAllCare

Looking for a nursery in Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton, Fenton or Stoke that accepts funded childcare places? BookAllCare makes it easy to search and compare Ofsted-registered nurseries across all six towns of Stoke-on-Trent. Filter by area, see key details and send free enquiries.

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