In this guide
8. Eligibility
To be eligible for the Childcare Offer Wales:
- you must live in Wales
- each parent’s gross income must be £100,000 or less per year
To be eligible during term time and school holidays, your child must be one of the following:
- 3 years old and eligible for early education (this is normally the term after your child turns 3 but depends on your local authority’s school admissions policy)
- 4 years old and not eligible for a full-time education place in the local authority in which you live
If your child is eligible for full-time education in your local authority:
- you will not be eligible for the Childcare Offer during term time
- you may still be eligible for the Childcare Offer during school holidays, if they are aged 3 or 4
Foster carers and kinship carers (relative or friend who is not a child’s parent) may be eligible.
You must also meet one of the following criteria:
- earn at least, on average, the equivalent to working 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage
- be on Statutory Pay and Leave (Sick, Maternity, Paternity, Parental Bereavement and Adoption Leave)
- be enrolled on either an undergraduate, postgraduate or further education course that is at least 10 weeks in length
If you have a partner who lives with you, they must also meet one of these earnings or education criteria.
Some exceptions can be made for families in receipt of certain benefits. Your local Family Information Service can provide advice on these exceptions.
Before applying check if you're eligible for the Childcare Offer for Wales.