On 12 May, working parents of babies and toddlers will be able to register to receive up to 15 hours free childcare per week, effective from September 2024.
Sunday 12 May marks the start of the second phase of the Government’s expansion of free childcare for working parents in England.
If you have a child aged between nine and 23 months at 31 August 2024, you can apply from 12 May for the 15 hours free childcare per week (term-time only), which comes into effect in September 2024.
In the March 2023 Budget, the Government announced the “largest-ever expansion of free childcare”, offering up to 30 hours per week of funded term-time care to all children in working families in England from the age of nine months by September 2025.
Currently, eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds can access 30 hours of childcare support.
The free childcare expansion programme is to roll out in the following phases:
- April 2024: Up to 15 hours for eligible working families in England with a two-year-old.
- September 2024: Up to 15 hours for eligible working families in England with a child aged between nine and 23 months old.
- September 2025: Up to 30 hours for eligible working families in England with a child from nine months old up to school age.
The Government said hundreds of thousands of parents will be able to access support with childcare costs for the first time, saving those using the full 30 hours from September 2025 nearly £7,000 per year.
In January, parents were able to register for the 15 hours of free childcare, but many reported problems with obtaining a code, while others claim their early years setting won’t accept them.
As part of this second phase, parents should check their eligibility criteria then apply online via the Government portal.
You’ll need to have the following information to hand before starting the application:
- Your National Insurance number (or Unique Taxpayer Reference if you’re self-employed)
- The date you started or are due to start work
- Details of any Government support or benefits you receive
- The UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.
Once your application has been approved (it can take up to seven days to check if you’re eligible), you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.
They will then process the code to provide your place. However, the Government warns that a “significant minority” of settings hold waiting lists of “over six months” so if you have a preferred setting for a September start, “you should reach out now to secure a place for your child ahead of receiving the code”.
Eligible working parents can also access Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) through the same application system, though you can apply for TFC at any time.
Indeed, if you’re already claiming TFC, you’ll need to reconfirm your eligibility between 1 April and 12 May, where you’ll be automatically issued with a code in the post from HMRC soon after 12 May.
Gillian Keegan, education secretary, said: “Last year, we committed to delivering the largest ever expansion of childcare that England has ever seen. And with over 150,000 children about to begin accessing a Government-funded childcare place in just over two weeks, it’s clear our plan is working.
“This Government has a track record of transforming childcare, with the offer of 30 hours for three- and four-year-olds for eligible working parents introduced in 2017.
“We are now going further, giving hard-working parents of under-threes the certainty they deserve to balance growing their families with a successful and rewarding career, saving parents up to an average of £6,900 per year for the full 30 hours.”
