Childcare Funding in Wandsworth: What Parents Need to Know

Parents in Wandsworth often come to us with the same question: "How does the government funding actually work, and will it cover a place at your nursery?" It is a completely understandable thing to want to get clear on before committing to anything, so I wanted to write something honest and practical that explains what is available, how we handle it here, and what you need to do next.

What Funding Is Available in Wandsworth

The government currently offers two main funded childcare entitlements for families in England, including here in Wandsworth.

15 hours per week (Universal entitlement) All three and four year olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year. This applies regardless of whether parents are working.

30 hours per week (Working families) Families where both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) are working and each earning the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage per week may be eligible for 30 funded hours. There are upper income limits, so it is worth checking your eligibility via the government's Childcare Choices website if you are not sure.

Expanded entitlements for younger children The government has been extending funded hours to younger age groups. From September 2024, eligible working families with children from nine months old became entitled to 15 funded hours, with further expansion planned. If your child is under three, it is worth checking your eligibility now, as the picture has shifted quite significantly over the past year.

How Funding Works at Little Starlings

We accept both 15 and 30 hours government funding here at Little Starlings Nursery Balham. If you are coming to us from Balham, Tooting, Clapham South or anywhere else in the borough, the process is the same.

Here is how it typically works in practice:

• You apply for your funded hours code through your HMRC childcare account online
• Once you have your code, you share it with us directly
• We claim the funding on your behalf each term
• You only pay for any hours or sessions that fall outside your funded entitlement

One thing I always tell parents is to apply for your code as early as you can, ideally a full term before you need it. Applications can sometimes take longer than expected, and codes must be in place before the term starts in order to be used that term.

What the Funding Does and Does Not Cover

This is where parents sometimes get a surprise, so I want to be straightforward about it.

The funded hours cover the core childcare. What they do not cover are additional costs that a nursery may charge separately, such as meals, consumables, or specific resources. These are sometimes called "optional extras" or "add-ons," and they vary from setting to setting.

At Little Starlings we keep things as clear and simple as we can. We will always talk you through exactly what is included when we discuss a place, so there are no unexpected bills later.

Applying for Funding: A Simple Checklist

If you are working through this for the first time, here is what you need to do:

• Check your eligibility at childcarechoices.gov.uk
• Set up or log into your HMRC childcare account at gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account
• Apply for your 30 hours code (if eligible) or confirm your 15 hours entitlement
• Share your code with your chosen nursery before the term deadline
• Reconfirm your eligibility every three months (HMRC will prompt you)

That last point catches people out. The 30 hours code needs to be reconfirmed every quarter. If you miss the window, you can lose the funding for that term, so keep an eye on the reminders HMRC send.

When Does Funding Start?

Funded hours for three and four year olds begin the term after your child's third birthday. Wandsworth, like the rest of England, follows three funding start dates:

• 1 January (for children born 1 September to 31 December)
• 1 April (for children born 1 January to 31 March)
• 1 September (for children born 1 April to 31 August)

So if your child turns three in May, for example, their funded hours would begin in September.

We Are Happy to Talk It Through

I know this post covers a lot of ground. If you are still unsure about what you are entitled to, or how funding would work with the sessions you have in mind, please just ask. We have helped plenty of Wandsworth families work through this, and we are always happy to have a straightforward conversation.

The best starting point is usually a visit. You can come and see the nursery, meet the team, have a look at the garden, and we can talk through funding at the same time in a way that is specific to your family's situation. Book a tour and we will take it from there.