Free early education for three and four year olds

Children in foster care are also able to receive 30 hours free childcare, if the following criteria are met:

• That accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child’s care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making, and
• That, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent.
• And in two parent foster families, both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent. If one partner is not a foster parent, then they must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum/national living wage.