Free Early Years Funding in Wandsworth: What Families Near Balham Need to Know

Free childcare funding is one of those things that parents often hear about but find surprisingly hard to get a straight answer on. I hear it regularly from families visiting us: they know something is available, but they are not sure what they qualify for, when it starts, or how to actually use it at a nursery like ours.

So here is a clear, honest guide to where things stand as of September 2025.

What every family gets

All three and four year olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week, regardless of household income. This is the universal entitlement, and it applies to every family. You do not need to be working, and there is no income check.

For working parents, there is the option to extend this to 30 hours per week for three and four year olds, subject to eligibility.

What has changed recently

Since September 2025, the funded hours have expanded significantly for working families. Eligible parents can now access funded childcare from when their child is just nine months old.

Here is how it works:

• 9 months to age 2: 15 funded hours per week for eligible working parents
• Age 2 to 3: 30 funded hours per week for eligible working parents
• Age 3 to 5: 30 funded hours per week for eligible working parents (or 15 hours for all families, regardless of work status)

This is a significant change. Families who would previously have waited until their child turned three before accessing any funding may now be able to use it much earlier.

Who counts as eligible for the working parent entitlement

Eligibility is based on both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) being in work and earning above a minimum threshold. The upper income limit is £100,000 per parent per year.

Because the minimum earnings figure is tied to the National Living Wage and reviewed each April, I would not quote a specific number here as it could change. The most reliable way to check your eligibility is through the government's own Childcare Choices website at childcarechoices.gov.uk. It takes a few minutes and gives you a clear answer.

How the hours work in practice

The funded hours are usually described as 15 or 30 hours per week during term time, but there is some flexibility in how they are arranged.

You can generally choose between:

• Term-time only: taking the full weekly hours during the 38 weeks of the school year
• Stretched: spreading the same total hours across more weeks of the year at fewer hours per week

At Little Starlings, we can talk through which arrangement works best for your family when you come in. We accept both 15 and 30 hours government funding, and we want to make sure the sessions you book actually fit around your life.

You can find more detail on costs and how funding applies on our fees and funding page.

What the funding covers, and what it does not

The funded hours cover your child's core nursery place. Most nurseries, including us, may charge separately for things like meals, additional hours beyond your entitlement, or specific resources. We keep this as clear and straightforward as we can for families.

If you have questions about what your funded hours would look like at Little Starlings Nursery Balham, the easiest thing is to come and talk it through with us in person.

A note for families in Balham, Tooting, Clapham South and the wider Wandsworth area

We are based in SW12, and most of our families come to us from Balham, Tooting, Clapham South, Streatham, and nearby parts of Wandsworth and Clapham. Whatever your postcode within the borough, the funding rules are the same. Wandsworth families access funded hours through their chosen nursery provider, and we handle the registration and paperwork on our end.

If your child is between 16 months and five years old and you are thinking about starting nursery, it is worth finding out now what you are entitled to, particularly given the recent expansion to younger age groups.

What to do next

The funding picture has changed a lot in recent years, and we find that parents often underestimate what they are eligible for. A short visit can go a long way, not just to see whether Little Starlings feels right, but to sit down and work out what funding might look like for your family specifically.

If you would like to come and have a look around, you are very welcome to book a show-around at a time that suits you. If you would prefer something a little more relaxed first, we also offer a Stay and Play session where your child can get a feel for the space while you meet the team.