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How working parents can get 15 and 30 hours free childcare How can working parents get 15 and 30 hours of free childcare?
(4 months later)
Working parents of children from nine months old can now access 15 hours a week of free childcare. Annual nursery costs for children under three in England have fallen, according to the children's charity Coram.
The government hopes the scheme, which will expand to include all under-5s from late 2025, will help parents return to work. The government has expanded free childcare in England, and eligible parents of all under-fives will be entitled to 30 free hours a week from September.
However, critics say there are not enough places. However, some childcare providers say they may have to leave the scheme due to rising costs, leading to fears of a shortage of spaces.
What free childcare can I get? Free childcare arrangements vary in other parts of the UK.
Extra help with childcare costs in England is being rolled out in stages. Some free hours were already available. How expensive is UK childcare?
The help you can get depends on the age of your child, and whether you are working, or receiving certain benefits. The average cost of full-time nursery (50 hours a week) for a child under two in England is £12,425 in 2025. That's a fall of 22% from 2024, according to the Coram Family and Childcare charity.
Working parents can get: Wales is the most expensive place in Great Britain for under-twos, at £15,038.
15 hours free childcare a week for two-year-olds from April 2024 The cost of a full-time place for a two-year-old fell 23% in England, but rose in Wales and Scotland.
15 hours free childcare for nine month olds from September 2024 The cost of a full-time place for three and four-year-olds went up in all three nations.
30 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds, external was already available How does free childcare in England work?
30 hours free childcare for all under-fives from September 2025 Extra help with childcare costs in England has been rolled out in stages.
The help you can get, external depends on the age of your child, and whether you are working, or receiving certain benefits.
Working parents can already get:
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
30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds
From September 2025, eligible parents will be able to get 30 hours of free childcare for all under-fives.
To qualify for the new hours, the majority of parents must earn more than £9,518,, external but less than £100,000 per year.To qualify for the new hours, the majority of parents must earn more than £9,518,, external but less than £100,000 per year.
Those on certain benefits can already get: Those on certain benefits can get:
15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds, external 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds
15 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds, external 15 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds
If you do not work, you might still be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare, external if your partner works, or you receive certain benefits. If you do not work, you might still be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare if your partner works, or you receive some benefits.
How do you apply for 15 or 30 hours free childcare? UK government: Childcare choices, external
Parents should apply before the start of the term when their child will be eligible. UK government: Childcare calculator, external
You have to reconfirm your details every three months so if you do apply early, remember you will have to confirm your details have not changed before term begins. How do you apply for 15 or 30 hours of free childcare?
The next term begins in January and parents of children from nine months old who are eligible for 15 or 30 hours can apply. Parents can apply for 15 hours of childcare from when their child is 23-weeks-old, and for 30 hours once their child is two-years-and-36-weeks-old.
The entitlement starts at the beginning of the term after your child reaches the qualifying age.
The government website has details of the deadlines to apply for each age group., externalThe government website has details of the deadlines to apply for each age group., external
Research shows the lack of affordable childcare is a barrier for many people hoping to work
Once approved, you will get a code to give to your officially-registered childcare provider., external
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.
What is not covered by the free childcare hours?What is not 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. But 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 (DfE) said all additional costs are voluntary, and parents should be told they can supply their own food and supplies to make their childcare entirely free. According to research from the Pregnant Then Screwed charity, almost a quarter (23%) of parents it surveyed said they couldn't afford to access free childcare hours because of top-up fees., external
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 top-up fees., external In February, the Department for Education (DfE) wrote to nurseries saying parents should be able to opt out of paying for these extras, "to ensure no family is priced out".
Extra free childcare helps higher earners - report However, some providers say they use these payments to subsidise the cost of the free hours for three and four-year-olds. More than 5,000 nurseries have signed an open letter to the Dfe asking for the new rules to be delayed.
How expensive is UK childcare? The lack of affordable childcare is a barrier for many people hoping to work
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 children's charity Coram, up from just under £15,000 in 2023.
Actual costs can vary significantly depending on where you live.
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?
The Department for Education says an additional 35,000 staff and 70,000 places will be required to meet demand by September 2025. The DfE says an additional 35,000 staff and 70,000 places will be required to meet demand by September 2025.
According to Coram, the availability of nursery and childminder places has worsened for all ages of pre-school children across England, Scotland and Wales. The education regulator Ofsted has warned that access to childcare in England has declined since 2020 and improvements have not been evenly spread across the country.
It says fewer than a third of councils (29%) have enough spaces for under-twos in 2024. On average, so-called "childcare deserts", external have lower household incomes and higher levels of deprivation than other areas.
The government is offering a cash incentive of £600 to those who become childminders (or £1,200 for those joining via an agency). The government offers a cash incentive of £600 to those who become childminders (or £1,200 for those joining via an agency).
The Department for Education does not yet have figures for the numbers who have signed up, but says childcare staffing rose by 4% across 2023 as a whole., external However, the number of childminders - those providing early years care in homes - has continued to decrease. The DfE has not given figures for the numbers who have signed up, but says childcare staffing rose by 6% across 2024 as a whole., external However, the number of childminders - those providing early years care in homes - has continued to decrease.
It adds that while the latest Office for National Statistics data shows the total population of zero to five-year-olds has fallen 1% per year from 2018 to 2022, the number of childcare places increased by 40,000 between 2018 and 2023. It adds that while the latest ONS data shows the total population of zero to five-year-olds fell by 1% per year from 2018 to 2022, the number of childcare places increased by 44,400 between 2023 and 2024.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said early years had been her "priority from day one", but nursery bosses said the government's updated funding rates for 2025 would not offset rising costs and could result in nursery closures. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said early years had been her "priority from day one". However, nursery bosses argue the government's updated funding rates for 2025 will not offset rising costs.
Mum-to-be given two-year wait for childcare place as demand rises The Early Years Alliance charity said about 185 nurseries of 1,100 it surveyed said they were "likely" to withdraw from the scheme within the next 12 months "due to unsustainable financial pressures".
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, external, Wales, external and Northern Ireland., external All three and four-year-olds and some two-year-olds in Scotland are entitled to 30 hours a week of funded childcare during term time (or 22 hours a week if used across the year), external, regardless of their parents' working status.
In each case, care must be delivered by officially registered providers. Eligible parents in Wales can get 30 hours of childcare for three and four-year-olds, external, and the government says it is expanding support for two-year-olds.
What help is there with childcare costs in Wales? The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS), external provides a 15% discount on childcare to qualifying working parents with pre-school-age children.
How does tax-free childcare work?How does tax-free childcare work?
Parents may be entitled to other support, including the UK-wide tax-free childcare scheme., externalParents may be entitled to other support, including the UK-wide tax-free childcare scheme., external
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).
You can use the money to pay for approved childcare, for example
childminders, nurseries and nannies
after school clubs and play schemes
Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme.
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.
What other financial help can parents get for childcare costs? How much is child benefit worth and who can claim it?
The Care to Learn scheme, external offers further help to student parents who are under 20 at the start of their course.
The government has a childcare calculator, external to help compare available schemes.
How are the child benefit rules changing?
Have you been able to access childcare spaces with funded hours available? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external.
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