The Childcare Offer for Wales: how it works, and how to claim it

The Childcare Offer for Wales gives working parents of 3 and 4 year olds up to 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare, for up to 48 weeks a year. You generally need to be working and earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum wage, and under £100,000 a year each. Parents in education or training can also qualify.

You apply through your local authority — Cardiff Council or Newport City Council — and the funding starts the term after your child's third birthday. Apply a few weeks early; approvals are not backdated.

In term time the 30 hours are split between early education and childcare. At our Newport nursery families use up to 20 Childcare Offer hours a week alongside their education hours; at Cardiff it is 17.5 hours. During school holidays you can use the full 30 hours a week with us.

Funded hours cover childcare only. Meals, nappies, trips and any hours beyond your funded allocation are invoiced as normal — our fees page lists every rate so you can see exactly what a funded week costs.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare on the hours the Offer does not cover, and Flying Start may already be funding a place if you live in an eligible area. Ask our managers and we will work out the cheapest legal combination for your family before you commit.