Working parents in England can now get 30 hours a week of government-funded childcare for children from nine months up to school age. The final stage of the rollout took effect at the beginning of September, doubling the previous 15-hour offer for under-twos.
The Department for Education (DoE) says families who use the full entitlement could save up to £7500 a year per child.
Eligibility includes yourself and your partner (if you have one,) although generally you need to be in work and each expects to earn at least the equivalent of 16hours at National Minimum or Living Wage, with individual income under £100,000.
You can apply online via GOV.UK to receive an eligibility code, which you should then provide to your childcare provider. You must have a valid code before the start of the term, with standard cut-offs of 31st of August, 31st December and 31st of March for Autumn, Spring and Summer starts.
You also need to reconfirm every three months to keep the code active. Local councils publish the exact dates and reminders.
This scheme sits alongside tax-free childcare, which can reduce fees by 20% for eligible families, and other support such as free hours for some two-year-olds. Use the government childcare calculator to see how the options stack up for your household.
For parents comparing places, the government says take-up is expected to exceed early projections, with over half a million children set to benefit from the scheme. Sector groups continue to press on staffing and capacity, so it is worth contacting providers as early as possible if you need particular times or dates.
