Exciting news for working parents in Surrey!
From September 2025, eligible families will be able to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week (for 38 weeks a year) for children aged 9 months to 4 years—doubling the current 15-hour entitlement. This means more flexibility, more choice, and more time for families to balance work and childcare.
Who Can Get the Funding?
You’re eligible if you and your partner (if you live together) meet the following criteria:
-
You are working, or on sick leave, annual leave, maternity, shared parental, or paternity leave
-
You earn at least £195 a week, but no more than £100,000 a year before tax
-
You have a National Insurance number
-
If you live with a partner, they must also earn within the same limits
💡 Even if you’re already receiving the 15 hours, you can simply reconfirm your details and provide your provider with your updated eligibility code. If you don’t currently receive funding, you can apply online via gov.uk.
Want to check your eligibility? Use the Childcare Choices eligibility checker.
Where Can You Use the 30 Hours?
The funded hours can be used at registered childcare providers, including:
-
Nurseries
-
Pre-schools
-
Childminders
-
Playgroups
Your provider must be registered with Ofsted or your local authority to offer the funding.
Will You Have to Pay Top-Up Fees?
It depends on the provider. Some families may need to top up to cover:
-
Meals and snacks
-
Nappies
-
Any hours over the 30 funded per week
Always check with your provider what is included in your funded hours.
Find the Best Settings in Surrey
If you’re looking for a nursery, pre-school, or childminder that could meet your family’s needs, here are 10 of our favourites:
- Little Sparrows in Esher – outstanding day nursery in the ground of Esher Cricket Club that offers flexible hours, forest school and a great holiday clubs
- Glenangels Childcare in Cobham – outstanding family owned and run setting offering flexible, tailored care, forest school and a supportive environment
- Child’s Play Preschool in Guildford – owned and run by two local parents this preschool offers yoga, music classes and forest school sessions
- Daisy Chain Preschool in Fetcham and Epsom – a small, privately owned preschool and after school club offering fully funded sessions
- Dorking Nursery School – one of Surrey’s 4 maintained nursery schools, legally constituted as a school with a Head Teacher who is a qualified teacher and early years specialist
- St Martin’s Preschool in Epsom – a wonderful preschool with high staff ratios run as a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charities Commission, and run for the benefit of the children, their families and the community.
- Little Forest Folk in Winkworth Arboretum – opened in January 2025 in the stunning National Trust grounds
- Portfield Farm Nursery near Reigate – a small family run nursery and preschool where children tend the veggie patch, play with pets and explore the outdoors
- Foundations Community Preschool in Woking – an outstanding setting that prides itself on their ability to cater to children with SEND
- Busy Bees – sites across Surrey – the UK’s biggest childcare provider with 390 settings across the UK
