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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? |
(1 day 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 2024 - 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. | 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 found almost a quarter (23%) of parents said they couldn't afford to access free childcare hours because of to top-up fees. | |
Extra free childcare helps higher earners - report | Extra free childcare helps higher earners - report |
How expensive is UK childcare? | |
The average cost of full-time nursery (50 hours a week) for a child under two in Britain will be £15,709 across 2024 according to Coram, up from just under £15,000 in 2023. | |
Actual costs can vary significantly depending on where you live. | |
But Coram's 2024 figure represents about 45% of average pay for a full-time worker in the UK. | |
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. |
But the number of childcare places in England fell slightly in 2023, mainly because of childminders leaving the sector. | |
According to the children's charity Coram, the availability of nursery and childminder places has worsened for all ages of pre-school children across England, Scotland and Wales. | |
It says fewer than a third of councils (29%) have enough spaces for under-twos in 2024, down from 42% in 2023. | |
In response, 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 2024 Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the government would guarantee payments to childcare providers for two years to help provide stability. | |
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. |
Scottish childminder numbers halve in a decade | |
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 are the child benefit rules changing? |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Children | Children |
Early education | Early education |
Women | Women |
England | England |
Cost of Living | Cost of Living |
Childcare | Childcare |
Parenting | Parenting |