Exciting news for parents! Eligible working parents with children aged 9 months to 2 years old can now access 15 hours of free childcare each week, starting from September 2024. Applications for these spots opened on May 12, 2024.
Here’s what you need to know:
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must:
- Each parents is expected to earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average over the next 3 months.
- Expected income of each family must be less than £100,000 per year.
- For couples, both parents must meet these requirements.
How Free Childcare Works
The free childcare program has recently expanded to benefit even more families. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available:
- Parents of two-year-olds: Eligible working parents can claim 15 free hours per week.
- Parents of three- and four-year-olds: All parents can claim 15 free hours per week, and some working parents can claim an additional 15 hours, bringing the total to 30 free hours weekly.
- Parents of nine-month-olds to two-year-olds: From September 2024, eligible working parents can access 15 hours of free childcare per week.
- Parents of nine-month-olds up to school age: From September 2025, eligible working parents can access 30 hours of free childcare per week.
Typically, these free hours are distributed across 38 weeks to align with school term times. However, you can usually spread the hours over more weeks by reducing the weekly total.
Where to Use the Free Hours
The free childcare hours must be used with registered childcare providers, including some private nurseries and state-run preschools. It’s worth noting that childcare systems vary in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, so families outside England should check their regional programs.
Additional Support for Parents
Beyond free childcare hours, there are other financial assistance options available:
Tax-Free Childcare Scheme
Parents can receive up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) per child through the Tax-Free Childcare scheme. For parents of disabled children, the support increases to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year).
How it works:
- Parents pay into an online account designated for childcare expenses.
- For every £8 you deposit, the government adds £2, up to the applicable limits.
- The funds can only be used with registered childminders or childcare providers.
You can use Tax-Free Childcare alongside 15 and 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.
Eligibility requirements for this scheme are similar: you must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at minimum wage. Self-employed workers also qualify if they meet this earnings threshold.
Stay Informed
For more information on free childcare programs and budgeting tips, sign up for updates and newsletters from trusted sources. This could be your chance to lighten the financial load and focus on your family’s well-being!
Please note that for all free childcare offers, parents need to reconfirm their eligibility every three months.
By September 2025, eligible working families with children aged between 9 months and 5 years old will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.