Since April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours of childcare support.
By September 2025, most working families with children aged between 9 months and 5 years old will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.
The changes are being introduced gradually, to ensure that providers can meet the needs of more families.
September 2024
15 hours of childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from 9 months to 2 years old.
September 2025
Eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.
Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total weekly hours.
Age 9 months - 2 years
Working Families
| 15 Hours | September 2024 |
|---|---|
| 30 Hours | September 2025 |
Age 2 – 3 years
Families receiving government support
| 15 Hours | Now |
|---|
Working Families
| 15 Hours | Now |
|---|---|
| 30 Hours | September 2025 |
When to apply
You need to apply the term before you want to take up a place.
For example, if you want to take up a place for your child from September, you need to apply during the summer term (1 April-31 August). When to apply:
|
Child’s birthday |
When you can claim |
|---|---|
|
1 January to 31 March |
the beginning of term on or after 1 April |
|
1 April to 31 August |
the beginning of term on or after 1 September |
|
1 September to 31 December |
the beginning of term on or after 1 January |
Tax-free childcare
Tax-free childcare is a government scheme to support working parents with childcare costs. If eligible, you set up an online childcare account which you can use to pay your childcare provider directly. For every £8 you pay, the government will pay an extra £2. You can get up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children.
You can use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for:
Registered childminders, nurseries, and nannies Registered after-school clubs and play schemes Home care workers working for a registered home care agency
- Apply for Tax-Free Childcare Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK website