Working parents can now apply for up to 30 hours free childcare.
From September 2025, funded childcare provision is being expanded.
It means families with under-fives will be able to double the current 15 hours of free childcare provision a week to 30 hours.
This applies to providers such as nurseries and registered childminders but does not apply to a nanny, home carer, or childcare provided by a relative. It will also not cover additional activities, such as trips, meals, nappies and additional hours.
Working parents will need to meet certain criteria to be able to apply, and it will only be available in England. There are different schemes operating for those living in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We take a look at the details.
Parents must have secured a place with their preferred childcare provider before applying for the funding (Photo: Rawpixel/Getty)Who is eligible for 30 hours of free childcare?
At present, working parents can access:
30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds; 15 hours of free childcare for children aged between nine months and two years; 15 hours of free childcare a week for two-year-olds.From Monday 12 May, all eligible working parents of children who will be nine months old before 1 September can apply to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week.
However, there are certain criteria to meet to get this funded provision. Working parents must be;
In work or starting a new job; On sick leave or annual leave; On shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave.The amount of funded childcare depends on a child’s age and circumstances, the family income and immigration status.
In terms of family income, parents must each expect to earn at least:
£6,281 per year before tax for those under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £120 per week); £10,158 per year before tax for those aged 21 or over (equivalent to £195 per week); £8,320 per year before tax for those aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £160 per week).On the immigration front, the person who applies must have one of the following:
British or Irish citizenship; Settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision; Permission to access public funds.If you are not eligible for the working parent provision, you may still apply for the 15-hour entitlement for all three and four-year-olds from the term after your child turns three until they start school. This element is irrespective of income level, benefit status, or family circumstances.
How can I apply for free childcare?
Parents must have secured a place with their preferred childcare provider before applying for the funding. They will also need:
Their national insurance (NI) number; The date they started or are due to start work; Details of any government support or benefits received; the UK birth certificate reference number for their child.Applications can then be made on the government website here.
After making the application, families generally find out immediately if they are eligible for the free childcare, but it can take up to seven days in some cases.
If the application is approved, an 11-digit code will be sent to the parent’s childcare account. HMRC will notify them by text or email the code is in the account. These codes need to be reconfirmed every three months.
Parents must give the code to the childcare provider along with the child’s date of birth and the parent’s NI number.
For those families who already qualify for the 15-hour funded provision, they will automatically get 30 hours from September as long as they are still eligible. They will need to confirm their details are up to date and give the code to their childcare provider.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Government is committed to increasing access to childcare (Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)The scheme to expand free childcare was introduced by the previous Conservative government. The present Labour Government has said it is “committed to increasing access to childcare that gives every child the best start in life”.
The rollout aims to break down barriers to parents returning to or increasing their hours at work, encouraing more women back into the workforce, and providing support to British businesses.
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Read MoreLabour has said its Plan for Change will provide £2bn extra investment compared with last year, in order to help existing providers deliver the 35,000 additional staff and 70,000 places required to meet demand for September.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, said: “This Government has a clear Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity across this country, which starts by ensuring our children start school ready to learn.
“Early years is my number one priority, and making sure families are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept.”
She said the scheme would also provide working mothers with greater flexibility to balance careers and family lives.
“They will be able to make choices about the career that’s right for them, the hours that they want, but also [have] the freedom to think about family size and how many children they want to have, with support from the Government around childcare hours”, she added.
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