How many hours of funding can I stretch?

You can stretch both the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements. For example, 30 hours over 38 weeks (1,140 hours total) becomes approximately 22.35 hours over 51 weeks or 23.75 hours over 48 weeks.

Can I charge top-up fees on stretched funding?

No. Under Department for Education (DfE) rules, the hours themselves must be free at the point of delivery. You cannot charge the difference between your private rate and the funding rate. However, you can charge for "consumables" like meals or additional services.

How many weeks can I stretch funding across?

Most childminders stretch across 48, 50, 51, or 52 weeks to match their operational year. This is usually agreed upon with your Local Authority and documented in your parent contracts.

What can I charge for under the 2026 EYFS framework?

The 2026 framework allows childminders to charge for consumables (meals, nappies, wipes) and additional services (outings, specialised classes), provided these are not a condition of taking up the free place. Invoices should be clear and itemised.

Childcare Funding Calculator: Stretched Hours & 52-Week Guide

Q: How does 30 hours funding stretch over 52 weeks?

Stretching the 30-hour entitlement (1,140 annual statutory hours) over 52 weeks yields exactly 21.92 funded hours per week (21 hours and 55 minutes). Childminders and nurseries bill 21.92 hours weekly at £0.00, billing any additional care at standard private hourly rates.

Q: What is stretched funding?

Stretched funding allows you to spread your child's 15 or 30 free hours over more than the standard 38 weeks of the school year (e.g., 48, 51 or 52 weeks). This provides a more consistent weekly bill for parents and helps with year-round childcare costs.

Quick Summary: Government-funded childcare provides 570 hours (15-hour offer) or 1,140 hours (30-hour offer) annually over 38 term-time weeks. Under DfE Early Education Guidance, childminders and nurseries can stretch entitlement hours across 48, 50, 51, or 52 weeks. Funded hours must appear at £0.00 on invoices.

With the expansion of funded childcare for eligible working parents of children from 9 months old, mastering the 1,140-hour calculation is no longer optional—it's critical for business survival.

Stretched funding is the #1 administrative headache for childminders who operate year-round. While the government provides 1,140 hours per year, dividing them across 48, 50, or 52 weeks requires precision to avoid year-end deficits or illegal charging.

🛡️ Audit Alert: January 2026 Itemisation Mandate

The rules are strict: you cannot charge a 'top-up' rate on government-funded hours. Under the January 2026 Itemisation Mandate, you must explicitly show funded hours at £0.00 on invoices, and any consumable charges (meals, nappies, trips) must be voluntary, optional, and clearly itemised.

Pro Tip: If a parent opts out of consumable charges, you must agree to an alternative arrangement (e.g. parent brings a packed lunch) without withdrawing their funded place. Under the 2026 "Leadership & Management" framework, your ability to demonstrate clear, transparent funding records is a key evaluating factor for a "Strong" grading.

📊 MTD April 2026 Ready?

With Making Tax Digital (MTD) coming into effect in April 2026, the 1,140-hour calculation is no longer just for parent clarity—it's for your digital income records. Using a calculator like this ensures your quarterly HMRC updates are precise, compliant, and professional from day one.

What is Stretched Funding?

The government's Working Parent Entitlement provides up to 30 hours per week of free childcare, calculated over the standard school year (38 weeks). This equals 1,140 hours per year.

Standard Term-Time Calculation:

30 hours/week × 38 weeks = 1,140 hours/year

But many childminders operate year-round (48-52 weeks). Parents want consistency. So you stretch the same 1,140 hours across more weeks:

Stretched Over 48 Weeks:

1,140 hours ÷ 48 weeks = 23.75 hours/week

👆 This is where the decimal hour tracking nightmare begins! Under DfE rules, you cannot round this down (e.g., to 23 hours) to make billing easier. Rounding down would withhold 36 hours of statutory funding a year from the parent, which is an illegal top-up violation.

How Does 30 Hours Funding Stretch Over 52 Weeks?

When stretched over a full 52-week year, the 30-hour entitlement (1,140 annual statutory hours) equals exactly 21.92 funded hours per week (21 hours and 55 minutes). Childminders and nurseries bill 21.92 hours weekly at £0.00, billing any additional care hours at their standard private hourly rate. Fractional hours must be tracked across each funding period.

The 52-Week Maths Breakdown:

• Statutory pot: 30 hours × 38 term-time weeks = 1,140 hours per year.
• Weekly allowance: 1,140 hours ÷ 52 weeks = 21.923 hours/week (rounded to 21.92 hours or 21h 55m).
• Decimal reconciliation: The remaining 0.08 hours (approximately 5 minutes per week) accumulates across the year (4.16 hours total), which providers reconcile in the final termly submission to ensure zero under- or over-claiming.
• 51 vs 52 weeks: Many Local Authorities limit stretched funding to a 51-week model (22.35 hours/week) to allow for a one-week closure period. Always verify whether your council funding portal accepts 51- or 52-week claim profiles.

Childcare Hours and Nursery Funding Entitlement Breakdown

Whether operating an independent childminding setting or a group nursery, early years providers deliver statutory hours determined by the Department for Education (DfE Statutory Guidance). The table below outlines weekly funded allowances across standard operational schedules:

Operating Schedule	Open Weeks	15-Hour Offer (570 hrs/yr)	30-Hour Offer (1,140 hrs/yr)
Standard Term-Time	38 weeks	15.00 hrs/wk	30.00 hrs/wk
4 Weeks Holiday	48 weeks	11.88 hrs/wk	23.75 hrs/wk
2 Weeks Holiday	50 weeks	11.40 hrs/wk	22.80 hrs/wk
Standard DfE Stretch Cap	51 weeks	11.18 hrs/wk	22.35 hrs/wk
Full Year-Round	52 weeks	10.96 hrs/wk	21.92 hrs/wk

Stretched Funding Calculator

How many weeks per year do you operate?

Most childminders operate 48 weeks (taking 4 weeks holiday)

Child's funded entitlement:

The Decimal Hours Challenge

When you stretch funding, you often end up with decimal hours (like 23.75 hours/week). These decimals accumulate across the year and can cause confusion. Here's how to manage them:

Example:

If a child attends 23.75 hours per week, that 0.75 hour (45 minutes) needs to be tracked:

• Week 1: 23.75 hours used (0.75 carried forward)
• Week 2: 23.75 hours used (1.5 hours carried forward)
• Week 3: 23.75 hours used (2.25 hours carried forward)
• Week 4: 23.75 hours used (3 hours carried forward = 1 extra "free" session)

Pro Tip: Round to the nearest 15-minute block for practical scheduling. Parents understand "24 hours per week" better than "23.75 hours."

Legal Compliance: What You Can and Cannot Charge

✅ You CAN Charge For:

• Nappies, wipes, and creams
• Meals, snacks, and drinks
• Art materials and supplies
• Trips and entry fees
• Extra-curricular classes (music, sports)

These must be labeled as "optional" or "voluntary". Crucially, if a parent chooses not to pay for these extras, you must agree to an alternative arrangement (e.g., allowing them to bring their own packed lunch) to ensure they can still access their free childcare hours.

❌ You CANNOT Charge For:

• The funded hours themselves
• "Administration fees" for funded children
• "Top-up fees" (the difference between funding and your private rate)
• Mandatory costs within the funded hours

Charging for the free entitlement or making extras "mandatory" is illegal under DfE guidance and can lead to your funding agreement being withdrawn.

Transparent & Audit-Proof Invoicing:

As of 2026, most Local Authorities require extreme transparency. We recommend itemising funded hours at £0.00 to prove they are free. Additional hours and consumables must be listed as separate, negotiated line items. This clarity protects you from funding disputes and Local Authority audits.

Regional Funding Rates

Each Local Authority sets their own hourly funding rate for childminders. While you cannot charge parents extra for the funded hours, understanding your LA's rate helps you budget effectively.

Typical Rates (2026 Averages):

• Under 2s (9 months+): £11.54 per hour
• 2 Year Olds: £8.53 per hour
• 3 & 4 Year Olds: £6.12 per hour

Central government funding rates vary by local authority. Check your Local Authority's Family Information Service for your setting's exact base rates and supplement structures.

Childcare Funding & Stretched Hours Calculator (2026 EYFS Update)