Parents urged to check free childcare hours as major change due in coming months

From the start of April, the government has been increasing the provision of free childcare support in England. The number of free childcare hours for qualifying families is being boosted from 15 to 30 hours per week.

This expansion is anticipated to be completed by September for children aged between nine months and four years. Parents who are currently receiving 15 hours won't need to make any changes as they can reconfirm as usual and the code they receive after September should include the extra 15 hours if they qualify. However, Money Helper has cautioned parents seeking free childcare for the first time that it won't automatically begin once your child reaches nine months.

You and your partner, if you have one, also need to meet certain eligibility criteria.

Parents who aren't currently receiving the childcare hours will also need to apply for it during specific periods depending on when they return to work. More details on free childcare can be found on the Gov.uk website.

If your child is at least nine months old and you're returning to work between May 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025, you must apply before August 31. This application period opened on April 1.

To apply for the free childcare hours, you need to complete the online form. It may take up to seven days to find out if you're eligible.

To qualify for the 30 hours of funded childcare, you and your partner, if applicable, must be:.

• Employed or starting a new job
• On sick leave or annual leave
• On shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

If you meet the criteria for the funding, you'll receive a code that you'll need to provide to your childcare provider. They will also require your National Insurance number and your child's date of birth.

From that point forward, you must reconfirm your eligibility every three months to keep this code valid. You should typically receive reminders before it expires.

The precise number of childcare hours you can obtain will depend on other factors such as your child's age, your income and your immigration status. If you don't qualify under the new rollout, you can still receive some support.

All three and four year olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of state funded childcare from the term after they turn three. This entitlement ceases when your child starts in reception class.

Universal Credit, Tax-free childcare and Wraparound childcare offer different types of support for working families in England. In Wales, the Flying Start scheme provides free childcare for two and three year olds while Scotland offers all children aged three to five with up to 30 hours per week.