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| Who gets 15 and 30 hours of free childcare and how do I apply? | Who gets 15 and 30 hours of free childcare and how do I apply? |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The deadline is approaching for working parents in England who want to apply for 15 hours of free weekly childcare for their two-year-olds. | The deadline is approaching for working parents in England who want to apply for 15 hours of free weekly childcare for their two-year-olds. |
| The government hopes that extending free childcare to this age group from April - and to all under-5s in 2025 - will get more parents back to work. | The government hopes that extending free childcare to this age group from April - and to all under-5s in 2025 - will get more parents back to work. |
| What free childcare can I get? | What free childcare can I get? |
| Extra help with childcare costs in England is being rolled out in stages. Some free hours are already available. | Extra help with childcare costs in England is being rolled out in stages. Some free hours are already available. |
| The help you can get depends on the age of your child, and whether you are working, or receiving certain benefits. | The help you can get depends on the age of your child, and whether you are working, or receiving certain benefits. |
| Working parents can get: | Working parents can get: |
| 15 hours free childcare a week for two-year-olds from April 2024 | 15 hours free childcare a week for two-year-olds from April 2024 |
| 15 hours free childcare for nine month olds from September 2024 | 15 hours free childcare for nine month olds from September 2024 |
| 30 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds is already available | 30 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds is already available |
| 30 hours free childcare for all under-5s from September 2025 | 30 hours free childcare for all under-5s from September 2025 |
| To qualify for the new hours, the majority of parents must earn more than £8,670, but less than £100,000 per year. | To qualify for the new hours, the majority of parents must earn more than £8,670, but less than £100,000 per year. |
| Those on certain benefits can already get: | Those on certain benefits can already get: |
| 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds | 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds |
| 15 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds | 15 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds |
| If you don't work, you might still be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare if your partner works, or you receive certain benefits. | If you don't work, you might still be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare if your partner works, or you receive certain benefits. |
| How do working parents apply for free childcare hours? | How do working parents apply for free childcare hours? |
| Parents should apply before the start of the term when their child will be eligible - ie before April, September or January. | Parents should apply before the start of the term when their child will be eligible - ie before April, September or January. |
| The deadline to get free hours for two-year-olds in the spring term is 31 March. | The deadline to get free hours for two-year-olds in the spring term is 31 March. |
| If you miss it you won't be able to start using free hours from April. | If you miss it you won't be able to start using free hours from April. |
| Applications for parents of nine month olds open on 12 May for the September term. | |
| Parents are advised to apply as soon as possible in all instances. | |
| Once approved, you'll get a code to give to your officially-registered childcare provider. | Once approved, you'll get a code to give to your officially-registered childcare provider. |
| Free childcare hours are designed to be used over 38 weeks of the year - during school term time. | Free childcare hours are designed to be used over 38 weeks of the year - during school term time. |
| However, some providers will stretch them over 52 weeks if you use fewer hours per week. | However, some providers will stretch them over 52 weeks if you use fewer hours per week. |
| The government website has details of the deadlines to apply for each age group. | The government website has details of the deadlines to apply for each age group. |
| What isn't covered by the free childcare hours? | What isn't covered by the free childcare hours? |
| The government is increasing the hourly rate it pays childcare providers offering free hours. | The government is increasing the hourly rate it pays childcare providers offering free hours. |
| However, in many cases, this rate does not cover the full cost of the childcare. So, some providers charge for extras like meals, nappies, sun cream or trips. | However, in many cases, this rate does not cover the full cost of the childcare. So, some providers charge for extras like meals, nappies, sun cream or trips. |
| The Department for Education says all additional costs are voluntary, and parents should be told they can supply their own food and supplies, to make their childcare entirely free. | The Department for Education says all additional costs are voluntary, and parents should be told they can supply their own food and supplies, to make their childcare entirely free. |
| However, the charity Pregnant Then Screwed says its research suggests that "almost a quarter (23%) of parents said they couldn't afford to access [free childcare] hours due to top-up fees". | However, the charity Pregnant Then Screwed says its research suggests that "almost a quarter (23%) of parents said they couldn't afford to access [free childcare] hours due to top-up fees". |
| Extra free childcare helps higher earners - report | Extra free childcare helps higher earners - report |
| Are there enough childcare places? | Are there enough childcare places? |
| By the time the expanded scheme is fully rolled-out in September 2025, demand for childcare places is likely to have risen 15%. | By the time the expanded scheme is fully rolled-out in September 2025, demand for childcare places is likely to have risen 15%. |
| That's equivalent to more than 100,000 additional children requiring full-time care. | That's equivalent to more than 100,000 additional children requiring full-time care. |
| However, the number of childcare places in England fell slightly in 2023, mainly because of childminders leaving the sector. | However, the number of childcare places in England fell slightly in 2023, mainly because of childminders leaving the sector. |
| To help meet demand, the government is offering a cash incentive of £600 to those who become childminders (or £1,200 for those joining via an agency). | To help meet demand, the government is offering a cash incentive of £600 to those who become childminders (or £1,200 for those joining via an agency). |
| The Department for Education doesn't yet have figures for the numbers who have signed up, but says childcare staffing rose by 4% across 2023 as a whole. | The Department for Education doesn't yet have figures for the numbers who have signed up, but says childcare staffing rose by 4% across 2023 as a whole. |
| In the Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the government would guarantee payments to childcare providers for two years, in order to deliver childcare places. | In the Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the government would guarantee payments to childcare providers for two years, in order to deliver childcare places. |
| Mr Hunt said the "biggest ever expansion" of childcare would help get an extra 60,000 parents back into the workforce over the next four years. | Mr Hunt said the "biggest ever expansion" of childcare would help get an extra 60,000 parents back into the workforce over the next four years. |
| He previously told the BBC he could not give "an absolute guarantee" that all the places needed would all be available in time. | He previously told the BBC he could not give "an absolute guarantee" that all the places needed would all be available in time. |
| What childcare help is available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? | What childcare help is available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? |
| Although all three and four-year-olds are entitled to some free childcare across the UK, different schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Although all three and four-year-olds are entitled to some free childcare across the UK, different schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| In each case, care must be delivered by officially-registered providers. | In each case, care must be delivered by officially-registered providers. |
| Scotland: Humza Yousaf announces plan to improve childcare | Scotland: Humza Yousaf announces plan to improve childcare |
| What help is there with childcare costs in Wales? | What help is there with childcare costs in Wales? |
| What other financial help can parents get for childcare costs? | What other financial help can parents get for childcare costs? |
| Parents may be entitled to other support, including the UK-wide tax-free childcare scheme. | Parents may be entitled to other support, including the UK-wide tax-free childcare scheme. |
| For every £8 you pay into an online childcare account, the government adds £2 (up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children). | For every £8 you pay into an online childcare account, the government adds £2 (up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children). |
| Parents who qualify for free childcare hours can save in the tax-free scheme as well. | Parents who qualify for free childcare hours can save in the tax-free scheme as well. |
| The Care to Learn scheme offers further help to student parents who are under 20 at the start of their course. | The Care to Learn scheme offers further help to student parents who are under 20 at the start of their course. |
| The government has a childcare calculator to help compare available schemes. | The government has a childcare calculator to help compare available schemes. |
| How are the child benefit rules changing? | |
| How expensive is UK childcare? | How expensive is UK childcare? |
| The average cost of full-time nursery (50 hours a week) for a child under two in Britain is nearly £15,000 a year, according to the charity Coram. | The average cost of full-time nursery (50 hours a week) for a child under two in Britain is nearly £15,000 a year, according to the charity Coram. |
| That's the equivalent of 44% of average pay for full-time workers. | That's the equivalent of 44% of average pay for full-time workers. |
| But costs vary significantly according to where you live. | But costs vary significantly according to where you live. |
| In inner London, the benefit of higher wages is effectively cancelled by increased nursery fees, which account for more than half of the average full-time wage. | In inner London, the benefit of higher wages is effectively cancelled by increased nursery fees, which account for more than half of the average full-time wage. |
| Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Children | Children |
| Early education | Early education |
| Women | Women |
| England | England |
| Cost of Living | Cost of Living |
| Childcare | Childcare |
| Parenting | Parenting |