Childcare offer for Wales: What you need to know
Choosing a nursery is a big step—we’re here to make it easier. Discover the funding support available to help make early education more affordable for your family.
30 hours funding for eligible working families
In Wales, eligible families can benefit from the Childcare Offer for Wales, which provides up to 30 hours of funded early education and childcare for children aged 3 to 4 years. This support begins from the term after your child turns 3 and is available for up to 48 weeks of the year. The offer combines a minimum of 10 hours of early education with up to 20 hours of childcare for working parents, helping to make high-quality childcare more accessible and affordable.
You may be eligible for this if both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) are:
Working and earning a minimum amount, usually equivalent to at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage
Each parent (in a couple household) usually needs to be working or considered as a “working household”
Have an income of less than £100,000 per parent per year
on sick leave or annual leave
on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
When should I apply?
If your child turns 3 in: April – August
When you can get your hours from: September Term
When you should apply: Ideally around 4-6 weeks before eligibility starts
If your child turns 3 in: September – December
When you can get your hours from: January Term
When you should apply: Ideally around 4-6 weeks before eligibility starts
If your child turns 3 in: January – March
When you can get your hours from: April Term
When you should apply: Ideally around 4-6 weeks before eligibility starts
Apply a few weeks before your child becomes eligible so that everything is ready for funding to begin at the start of the next term.
Applying early helps ensure:
Your eligibility is approved in time
Funding can start without delays
You can plan your childcare place smoothly
To apply for funded childcare please follow the link below:
https://www.gov.wales/childcare-offer-for-wales-campaign
Tax – Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme designed to help working parents with the cost of childcare. For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government will add £2, helping you make your money go further. This can provide up to £2,000 per child per year, or up to £4,000 if your child has a disability.
A great benefit of Tax-Free Childcare is that it can be used alongside other childcare support in Wales, including the Childcare Offer for Wales for eligible 3–4 year olds. While it cannot be used to pay for your funded childcare hours directly, it can help with additional costs such as extra hours, meals, or other charges set by your provider, helping to further reduce your overall nursery expenses.
You can check your eligibility here.
https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account
Discounts at the Green Giraffe Nursery
At The Green Giraffe Nursery, we want to support families as much as we can, so we are pleased to tell you that alongside the government funding options, we also offer:
Sibling Discount: 10% off all regular booking sessions
Full-time weekly discount: 5% off Full day sessions
We understand that every family’s needs are different. Whatever your childcare requirements, our team is here to guide you through the available funding schemes and discuss sessions that works best for you.
To get started, find your nearest Green Giraffe Nursery or visit our Fees & Funding Page to learn more.
We look forward to welcoming you and your little one!