The UK government’s 30 hours of free childcare sounds simple on the surface. Thirty hours a week, free childcare, helping parents return to work and manage soaring nursery costs. For many families, it’s a lifeline.

But as thousands of parents discover each year, the scheme comes with rules, timing quirks and nursery-level restrictions that can significantly affect when you can use the hours — and how much you’ll still end up paying.

If you’re planning childcare around the 30 free hours, here are the key things you really need to know, including two of the biggest surprises that regularly catch families out.

What Is the 30 Hours Free Childcare Scheme?

The 30 hours free childcare entitlement is available to working parents in England who meet certain eligibility criteria. Broadly speaking:

• Both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) must be working

• Each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at minimum wage

• Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 per year

• The child must be aged 9 months or older

  
  

The childcare is funded by the government and can be used with registered childcare providers, including nurseries, pre-schools and childminders.

Sounds straightforward — until you get into the detail.

Rule #1: “From 9 Months Old” Doesn’t Mean From Your Child’s Birthday

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the scheme is when the 30 hours actually start.

While eligibility begins when your child turns 9 months old, you do not automatically get the hours from their birthday. Instead, access is determined by term start dates — and this is where many parents are caught out.

Term Dates Matter More Than Birthdays

Free childcare in England starts from the beginning of the school term after your child becomes eligible. The three term start dates are:

• Spring term: 1 January

• Summer term: 1 April

• Autumn term: 1 September

  
  

This means that depending on how close your child’s birthday is to a term start, you may have to wait weeks — or even months — before you can use the 30 hours.

Why Some Children Don’t Access It Until 10 or 11 Months Old

Here’s a common scenario:

• Your child turns 9 months old in February

• The next term doesn’t start until April

• You won’t be able to use the 30 hours until April

  
  

By that point, your child could be 10 or even 11 months old before the funded hours actually begin.

This delay often comes as a shock, especially for parents planning their return to work around the 9-month mark. Many families budget assuming the funding will kick in immediately — only to face several extra months of full nursery fees.

Planning tip: Always check which term your child’s birthday falls closest to, not just their age.

Rule #2: 30 Hours Doesn’t Always Mean 30 Hours You Can Actually Use

Another major surprise is how nurseries apply the free hours in practice.

On paper, 30 free hours a week sounds like it should cover three full nursery days (or close to it). After all, many nursery days are around 10 hours long.

But in reality, many nurseries cap the number of funded hours you can use per day.

The 6-Hour Daily Cap

It’s very common for nurseries to limit funded hours to 6 hours per day, even though the government provides funding for up to 30 hours per week.

What does that mean in practice?

• 6 hours per day × 5 days = 30 hours

• 6 hours per day × 3 days = 18 hours

• 6 hours per day × 4 days = 24 hours

  
  

So unless your child attends nursery five days a week, it may be impossible to use all 30 free hours.

This catches parents out all the time — particularly those planning to work three or four longer days.

“But a Nursery Day Is 10 Hours…”

Exactly — and this is where costs creep in.

Even if your child attends for a 10-hour day, only 6 of those hours may be funded. The remaining 4 hours are charged at the nursery’s usual rate.

So you might think you’re getting “free childcare” — but still end up paying hundreds of pounds a month for top-up hours.

How This Impacts Your Childcare Costs

These restrictions can have a big impact on family finances.

For example:

• You plan for 3 full nursery days per week

• You expect 30 free hours to cover them

• The nursery only funds 6 hours per day

• You’re actually only using 18 funded hours

• You pay privately for the remaining hours

  
  

This gap between expectation and reality often leads to frustration — and unexpected bills.

It’s also worth noting that nurseries are allowed to set their own policies around how funded hours are applied, as long as they stay within government rules. This means policies vary widely between providers.

Other Things to Watch Out For

While the two points above are the biggest traps, there are a few other things worth knowing:

Stretched Funding Isn’t Always “Free”

Some nurseries spread the 30 hours across 51 or 52 weeks instead of term time only. This reduces the number of funded hours per week — often closer to 22–23 hours — with the rest charged privately.

Extras Aren’t Included

Meals, nappies, trips and extended hours are not covered by the funding. These charges can add up quickly.

You Must Reconfirm Eligibility

Parents must reconfirm their eligibility every three months. Miss a deadline and you could temporarily lose your funding.

How to Protect Yourself From Costly Surprises

The best defence is early planning and clear questions

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Before committing to a nursery, ask:

• How many funded hours can be used per day?

• Are the hours term-time only or stretched across the year?

• What hours are charged privately?

• When exactly will my child be able to start using the 30 hours?

• What additional charges should I expect?

  
  

Getting this clarity upfront can save you thousands over the course of a year.

Final Thoughts

The 30 hours free childcare scheme is incredibly valuable — but it isn’t as simple as it first appears.

Between term-based start dates and daily caps on funded hours, many parents find that the childcare they thought was “free” comes with strings attached.

Understanding these rules early allows you to plan realistically, budget accurately and avoid stressful surprises at an already busy stage of family life.

When it comes to childcare, knowledge really is power.