Parents have just days left to save up to £7,500 on childcare – check if you're eligible
The Department for Education (DfE) is rolling out more free childcare for working families - but the deadline to apply is fast approaching.
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From September, parents will be able to access up to 30 hours for children aged nine months up to four years old.
However, you must get your application in by August 31 if you want to receive the funding by the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
You can apply for funding from September if your child turns nine months old between April 1 and August 31.
Stephen Morgan, early education minister, said: "This landmark expansion of funded childcare will help parents save money, work in the jobs they love, and give more children the best start through high-quality early education."
The rollout of extra free hours of childcare to working parents from next month is the final phase in a three-part expanion.
Phase one began in April 2024 and saw eligible working parents of two-year-olds able to apply for 15 hours of free childcare.
Phase two saw 15 hours free childcare extended to eligible working parents of children aged nine months to three years old in September 2024.
The expansion was announced by the previous Conservative government during its 2023 Spring Statement.
Previously, parents could only claim 15 free hours for three and four-year-olds in England.
The Government has said parents using the full 30 hours from next month will save around £7,500 a year.
Freebies for parents worth £2,900
Holly Yildiz, a mother of two, will be accessing 30 hours of funded childcare from September.
She said: "Formal childcare has been brilliant for my children - it's amazing to see how much they've grown, not just with learning but in confidence and friendships too.
"I really feel like they're being set up for school and life in the best way.
"The financial support has been a huge help - both children will get 30 funded hours from September, which takes a big weight off our shoulders."
It comes after fresh research by the DfE found just 45% of parents earning under £20,000 a year are aware of the expanded free childcare hours offering.
That's compared to 81% of those on annual salaries of over £65,000.
It's worth bearing in mind, you are only eligible for free hours of childcare if you are classed as a "working" parent.
You meet this criteria if you individually earn more than £9,518, but less than £100,000 a year.
If you're in a couple, you must both earn at least £9,518 and neither one of you can earn more than £100,000 adjusted net income.
Your adjusted net income is your total taxable income, including your salary, rental income and money from freelance work.
The full eligibility criteria for free childcare hours can be found on the Childcare Choices website - www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How to apply
Families in England can apply for free hours childcare via the gov.uk website.
You have to first set up a childcare account and if your application is approved you are sent an 11-digit code that proves you're eligible to get free childcare.
You give this code to your childcare provider.
To keep getting free childcare hours you have to confirm your details are correct every three months via your childcare account.
You'll need some personal information to hand when you first apply - this includes your National Insurance (NI) number and Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number if you're self-employed.
You will also need the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) of any children you're applying for and the date you start or are due to start work.
The Government's website says the application takes around 20 minutes to complete.
Find out more via www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working.
Who's eligible for free childcare hours?
YOU could get up to 30 hours of free childcare per week through the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme if you meet these conditions:
Child's age: Your child must be between 9 months and 4 years old and live in England.
From September 2025: All children aged 9 months to 2 years will qualify for 30 free hours per week.
Income: Each parent must earn at least £166 per week (equal to working 16 hours at minimum wage) and no more than £100,000 per year.
If you're not eligible for the 30-hour scheme, you can still get 15 free hours per week for all 3 and 4-year-olds, starting from the term after their third birthday until they begin school.
This is available to everyone, regardless of income or benefits.
Your 2-year-old can also get free childcare if you live in England and meet any of these conditions:
You receive benefits like Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or Universal Credit (with a household income of £15,400 or less after tax, not including benefit payments).
You get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
Your child is also eligible if they:
Are in the care of a local authority.
Have an education, health, and care (EHC) plan.
Receive Disability Living Allowance.
Have been adopted or are under a special guardianship or child arrangements order.
Taking up the 15 free hours for 2-year-olds won't affect your benefits
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