Free childcare about to be extended – here’s all the support on offer to parents of young children
By Katie Williams, Money team
Parents of young children can get a certain amount of government-backed free childcare per week to help them return to work.
The schemes differ across the devolved nations.
It is about to be extended to younger children – those aged two – in England.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s on offer across the UK:
England
Three and four year olds
In England, all parents of children aged three and four in England can claim 15 hours of free childcare per week, for 1,140 hours (38 weeks) a year, at an approved provider.
This is a universal offer open to all.
It can be extended to 30 hours where both parents (or the sole parent) are in work, earn the weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage, and have an income of less than £100,000 per year.
Two year olds
Previously, only parents in receipt of certain benefits were eligible for 15 hours of free childcare.
But, as of April 2024, this is being extended to working parents.
This is not a universal offer, however.
A working parent must earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 per year. For couples, the rule applies to both parents.
Applications for the new 15-hour offer have been open since January, and the 31 March deadline is fast approaching.
Nine months old
In September 2024, this same 15-hour offer will be extended to working parents of children aged from nine months. From 12 May, those whose children will be at least nine months old on 31 August can apply to received the 15 hours of care from September.
From September 2025
The final change to the childcare offer in England will be rolled out in September 2025, when eligible working parents of all children under the age of five will be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week.
Wales
In some areas of Wales, the Flying Start early years programme offers 12.5 hours of free childcare for 39 weeks, for eligible children aged two to three. The scheme is based on your postcode area, though it is currently being expanded.
All three and four-year-olds are entitled to free early education of 10 hours per week in approved settings during term time under the Welsh government’s childcare offer.
Some children of this age are entitled to up to 30 hours per week of free early education and childcare over 48 weeks of the year. The hours can be split – but at least 10 need to be used on early education.
To qualify for this, each parent must earn less than £100,000 per year, be employed and earn at least the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage, or be enrolled on an undergraduate, postgraduate or further education course that is at least 10 weeks in length.
Scotland
All three and four-year-olds living in Scotland are entitled to at least 1,140 hours per year of free childcare, with no work or earnings requirements for parents.
This is usually taken as 30 hours per week over term time (38 weeks), though each provider will have their own approach.
Some households can claim free childcare for two-year-olds. To be eligible you have to be claiming certain benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit, or have a child that is in the care of their local council or living with you under a guardianship order or kinship care order.
Northern Ireland
There is no scheme for free childcare in Northern Ireland. Some other limited support is available.
Working parents can access support from UK-wide schemes such as tax credits, Universal Credit, childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare.
Aside from this, all parents of children aged three or four can apply for at least 12.5 hours a week of funded pre-school education during term time. But over 90% of three-year-olds have a funded pre-school place – and of course this is different to childcare.
What other help could I be eligible for?
Tax-free childcare – Working parents in the UK can claim up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of their children to help with childcare costs.
If the child is disabled, the amount goes up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year).
To claim the benefit, parents will need to open a tax-free childcare account online. For every 80p paid into the account, the government will top it up by 20p.
The scheme is available until the September after the child turns 11.
Universal credit – Working families on universal credit can claim back up to 85% of their monthly childcare costs, as long as the care is paid for upfront. The most you can claim per month is £951 for one child or £1,630 for two or more children.
Tax credits – People claiming working tax credit can get up to 70% of what they pay for childcare if their costs are no more than £175 per week for one child or £300 per work for multiple children.
