Parent/carer consultation on 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year-olds from September 2017

What’s it all about?

Currently all 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for 15 hours per week of free childcare/early education. From September 2017, some 3 and 4 year olds will be entitled to 30 hours per week of free childcare, under a new government scheme.
The extended entitlement is intended to support working parents with the cost of childcare and enable them, where they wish, to return to work or to work additional hours.

Your views are important

We will use the information you provide to help us shape early years services in Islington.

Am I eligible?

You may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare if your circumstances are as follows:

• Both parents are working (employed or self-employed including zero hours contracts) or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family; and 
• Each parent earns, on average, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at the national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW); and each parent individually earns less than £100,000 per year.
• Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity or paternity leave; 
• Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on adoption leave; 
• Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay; 
• One parent is employed and one parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring; or 
• One parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits.

Even if you do not think you meet the eligibility criteria above, we would like to know if you would be interested in taking steps (for example finding work/increasing your hours at work) so that you might become eligible.

Consultation is now closed.

Do you need this information in another language or reading format such as Braille, large print, audio or Easy Read? Please call 020 7527 2000.