In Sefton, you can access a whole host of safe, high quality childcare and early learning opportunities, including holiday clubs and schemes.
Our Sefton Directory has a full list of all childcare options in Sefton.
Funded Childcare
Childcare is changing with new funded entitlements for working parents.
You can take a look at your childcare eligibility here and you can apply for your codes here too via Childcare Choices.
For more information on any of the entitlements, please contact us:
2yearolds@sefton.gov.uk or call 0151 933 6021 (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm or Fri 9am-4pm)
9 Months Old
Children who are 9 months old and over, where both parents work 16 hours or more, may are entitled to 15 hours term time funded childcare. This starts the term after the child turns 9 months. For example if your child turns 9 months in May, you will have to wait until September for your funded childcare.
Some settings may offer a ‘stretched entitlement’ so that you get childcare in the holidays but this will mean your hours per week are lower across the year to cover this.
Places can be accessed through a range of providers including private nurseries, some school nurseries, playgroups, with some childminders.
Apply for a code now to use at your preferred setting
2 Year Olds (Working Parents)
Working parents can access 15 hours funded childcare for two-year-olds. Most parents who work more than 16 hours and earn less than £100,000 are eligible. This is available the term after your child turns 2 years old.
Some settings may offer a ‘stretched entitlement’ so that you get childcare in the holidays but this will mean your hours per week are lower across the year to cover this.
Places can be accessed through a range of providers including private nurseries, some school nurseries, playgroups, with some childminders.
Apply for a code now to use at your preferred setting2 Year Olds (Families Receiving Additional Support)
Some 2-year-olds in Sefton can get FREE early learning and childcare support if they meet one or more of the eligibility criteria.
Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments.
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:
- are looked after by a local authority.
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
- get Disability Living Allowance
- have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangement order
You can apply for this support here
3 and 4 Year Olds (Working Parents)
- All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours, term time funded Early Education from the term after their 3rd birthday (There is no application process for this. Please speak to your childcare provider).
- An additional 15 hours of free childcare is available for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage and earns less than £100,000 a year.
Further Support
From September, working families in Sefton can receive some support towards childcare costs for Early Years children from 9 months and for school aged children 5-11 years.
Find out more here: Guidance and resources | Childcare Choices
Coming Soon
Expansion of Funded Entitlements
September 2025
30 hours (term time) funded entitlement for children of working parents accessible from the term after they are 9 months old. For more information: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk