The Working Parents Entitlement
Funding Overview Guide
The Working Parents Entitlement
Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to apply for 15 hours childcare support.
From September 2024, eligible working parents of 9 month olds will be able to apply for 15 hours childcare support.
From September 2025, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.
Families can sign up for more details about the upcoming expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs on the Childcare Choices website
A child can start their childcare place the term after they are eligible and have received a valid eligibility code, whichever is later. Term start dates are 1 September, 1 January and 1 April.
To keep their 15 or 30 hours childcare place parents will need to check their details are up to date every three months.
Please see our FAQ document (PDF, 141.6 KB) for any questions you may have relating to this new entitlement.
Eligibility criteria
From 12 May 2024, eligible working parents of children between 9 months and 4 years will be able to apply to HMRC for 15 hours of childcare. Parents have until 31 August to apply for a code, with the best time in mid-June to the end of July, in case they need to provide further information to support their application.
To apply each parent needs to be working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum or living wage and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year. This means that each parents need to earn from just over £8,600 per year to be eligible for 15 hours a week of childcare during term time.
Once confirmed as eligible HMRC will issue an 11 digit eligibility code per child. Parents will need to take the eligibility code to their chosen provider to secure a funded place.
More information on the range of childcare support available to parents can be found in the Childcare Choices toolkit. There is also a handy eligibility checker on the Childcare Choices website which parents can use to find out how they can save money on their childcare.
Please note: If a parent applies more than three months before the start of the new term they will need to reconfirm their details to ensure they are still eligible.
Synergy Provider Portal
Please use the link below to access the provider portal:
- Synergy FIS Provider Portal login
- Provider portal password guidance (PDF, 410.0 KB)9 months + sign up form guidance notes
(PDF, 163.7 KB)
If you would like to sign up to offer the 9 month plus entitlement, please contact Management Information.
Autumn Terms 2024
Autumn Headcount:
Validating codes - eligibility checker
Providers must validate all eligibility codes with Management Information prior to securing a funded place and submitting a funding claim.
To validate an 11 digit code and establish eligibility for the entitlement, submit the form below and Management Information will complete a check and inform you of the result by email.
Submit a working parents eligibility check
Parental declaration form
- Parental declaration form for 9 months, 2, 3 and 4 year olds from September 2024 (PDF, 224.2 KB)
- Parental declaration form for 9 month, 2, 3 and 4 year olds from September 2024 - Word Version (DOCX, 116.8 KB)
Funding Calendar and Payment Schedule
Year 2024/25
- Funding Calendar 2024/25 for childminders (PDF, 275.3 KB)
- Funding Calendar 2024/25 for settings
(PDF, 276.0 KB)
Kent Provider Agreement
The first few years of a child's life is crucially important to their development. Kent County Council are working with providers across the county to make Free Early Education and Childcare for 9 months to 4 year olds easily accessible. The Kent Provider Agreement provides a framework which outlines the mutual commitments on delivering the entitlements.
We have updated our Kent Provider Agreement to reflect the changes in the statutory guidance published by the Department of Education. Please log in to your FIS Provider Portal to sign the latest version of the agreement.
Please note, you must sign the Kent Provider Agreement to claim Free Early Education and Childcare funding from summer terms 2024 onwards.
- Kent Provider Agreement from 1 April 2024 (PDF, 527.2 KB)
- Kent Provider Agreement Guidance Notes (PDF, 271.3 KB)
Children in foster care
Deadline dates for Missed Headcount Submissions 2024/25
Please be aware that we are changing the appeal process for completely missed headcount claims, due to feedback that has been received across all aspects of the service.
Management Information have now set out deadlines for providers to notify Management Information that they have missed their headcount submission and now require a late submission.
Below, you will find the deadline dates for missed headcount submissions.
- Autumn 2024 - Friday 18 October 2024
- Spring 2025 - Friday 7 Feburary 2025
- Summer 2025 - Friday 23 May 2025
Any appeal claims received after the deadline dates stated above will not be processed nor paid, as per section 15.2 of the Kent Provider Agreement.
Deadline dates for adjustments and late joiners 2024/25
Late joiners will now be claimed for as adjustments through the new Synergy FIS provider portal. Please refer to the guidance below for how to claim an adjustment.
To ensure all termly payments (Estimate, Headcount, Overallocations, EYPP, DAF and Adjustments) can be processed and paid in time for each term please see below deadline dates for adjustment claims:
- Autumn 2024 - 13 December 2024
- Spring 2025 - 28 March 2025
- Summer 2025 - 15 August 2025
Any adjustment claims for the previous term received after the deadline dates stated above will not be processed nor paid.