Expansion of free childcare in England to include children from 9 months from September 2024

In the Budget of March 2023, the previous Conservative Government announced a significant expansion of the free childcare hours available to working parents in England. The latest stage in this expansion will see eligible working parents of children from 9 months to three years able to apply from September 2024 for 15 hours free childcare per week. From next year (September 2025) this is due to be extended to offer 30 hours of free childcare to children from 9 months.

As with the existing ‘free childcare hours’ for older children, and subject to agreement with your childcare provider, these hours can either be used as 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year, or spread across up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than 15 hours each week.

Who is eligible for 15 hours free childcare?

This free childcare will be available to parents of children aged from 9 months to three years, who work and earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or National Living Wage, but less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year. This is the same earnings criteria as the current 30 hours free childcare per week for older children.

When and how should I apply for free childcare?

Parents should visit the Government’s Childcare Choices website for information on when and how to apply for the 15 hours free childcare. You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old, and need to apply a term ahead of when you wish to access the support. The timeline is set out in the table below:

Please note, if you are parental leave and planning on returning to work after 1 October 2024 the dates of when you can apply for the free hours may be different. More detail on this is available here.

Check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your free childcare starts.

What if I live in other regions of the UK – Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

Scotland and Wales have not yet announced an expansion to their current free childcare schemes which are broadly similar to the 30 hours free childcare available in England. This may change in the future. More information is available here, for Wales and for Scotland.

Northern Ireland does not have a free childcare scheme similar to those mentioned above available in the rest of the UK, but does offer funded pre-school places of 12.5 hours or 22.5 hours per week for children in their final year before entering primary school.

Parents of children below school age in Northern Ireland who use Tax-Free Childcare can claim a 15% discount on their childcare bill through the new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme, from September 2024 (subject to the scheme being supported by their childcare provider). Read more about how to apply for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy here.

Further information

We would encourage all parents, whatever part of the UK they live in, to make sure they are receiving all the financial support they are entitled to with their childcare costs, at whatever stage their children are at, and to check regularly that they are receiving the best form of support for their family.

If you would like further advice on help with childcare costs or wish to find out more about what financial support you may be entitled to, contact our Family Benefits Advice Service for free, impartial and confidential advice. Call us on 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org – we are here to help.