Funding for early childhood education and childcare

​​​​​​​​​​Children aged 2 to 3 years old

From January 2026, your child can receive free childcare hours in the school year they turn 3 years old.

You can receive up to £6,270 per school year. You’ll need to pay for childcare and then apply with your payment receipt.

Your childcare provider must be registered and can be a private nursery or childminder. Find a list of registered childcare providers​.

You can apply if you get Income Support, regardless of your circumstances. If you already get childcare support from Income Support this will continue as usual. We’ll adjust your application with what you receive and make any payments you’re entitled to.

If you can’t afford to pay for childcare in advance, from January you can contact the Jersey Child Care Trust (JCCT). They may be able to help you with childcare costs and your application.

How to apply

The online application form will be available from February 2026.

Your child would need to have turned 3 years old after 1 September 2025.

To apply, you’ll need:

• your Social Security number
• your child’s Social Security number
• nursery or childminder name
  
• your bank details
• payment receipt from the nursery or childminder

You don’t need to apply if your child goes to:

• Play and Learn at D’Auvergne
• Douet Dinkies at Plat Douet

These pilot schemes will continue for the school year 2025 to 2026.

Once your application is approved, you’ll receive payment within 4 weeks.

Finding a nursery or childminder

You need to arrange your own childcare.

Find nurseries and childminders from the list of registered childcare providers.

Children aged 3 to 4 years old

​​​​In the school year your child turns 4 years old, they can get up to 30 free nursery hours each week. This is for 38 weeks during term time only, starting in September.

The free nursery hours are called the Nursery Education​ Fund (NEF)​.

To get free nursery hours, your child must attend a NEF-registered childcare provider. You only pay if your child attends more than 30 hours per week.

Where you can get a place​

You can apply for a funded nursery place at:

• public school nurseries
• NEF-registered private nurseries

You can’t get free nursery hours from a childminder.

School nursery place

Most of our public primary schools have a nursery class.

These nurseries provide care to children in the year before they start Reception. They are open term time only.

Contact the school or find out how to register and apply for a school nursery place.

Private nursery place

Some nurseries are open outside of school hours and all year. Contact them for more details and for available spaces.

Find a list of private nurseries​.

Childcare help if you’re on Income Support

You may be able to receive help paying for childcare if you’re on Income Support when you:

• are working
• are studying
• have an illness or disability

Find more on how your childcare benefit made up​ or contact Income Support.
Children aged under 2

As a new parent you have employment rights and can receive financial support.

Find more details on parental rights and financial assistance​.