Free childcare in England | Eligibility

Childcare costs

Childcare costs can take a big chunk out of a family budget, with the UK being one of the most expensive countries in the world for childcare, so parents in England welcomed the news that the government has expanded its 15 hours free childcare scheme. As part of childcare changes in 2024, children as young as nine months of working parents are now entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week.

The free hours are for 38 weeks a year which is the same as school term-time.

Since September 2010, all three and four-year-olds in England, regardless of their family income, get 15 hours of free childcare a week. Since 2013, two-year-olds from low-income families or who are vulnerable have also been able to get 15 hours of free childcare a week.

From 2017, working parents of three and four-year-olds have been able to claim 30 hours of free childcare.

The government said it has no plans to offer free childcare to babies under nine months.

Children aged nine months and over get 15 hours free childcare

Since September 2024 due to an expansion of the free childcare scheme, children aged nine months and over of working parents are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week.

Parents are required to confirm their eligibility for the government funded hours every three months.

30 hours free childcare for working parents from Sept 2025

From September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged from nine months up to when they start school will be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare a week.

Eligibility criteria will be the same as the 30 hours currently offered to working parents of three and four-year-olds.

Three and four-year-olds of parents who work and earn at least 16 hours a week on at least the National Minimum Wage and earn less than £100,000 are entitled to 30 hours free childcare a week.

What free childcare am I eligible for?

The offer of free childcare only applies to working parents who as individuals earn over £8,670 and less than £100,000. The rule applies to both parents.

You have to use ‘approved childcare’ that is registered with Ofsted.

‘Approved childcare’ includes:

• Nursery, nursery school, pre-school or children’s centre
• After-school clubs and play schemes
• Childminder or nanny
• School

Will nurseries have the extra childcare places?

The expansion of the free childcare scheme will inevitably put more pressure on nurseries for places and create more demand.

The government pledged to invest more than £400m in 2024-25 so local authorities can afford to up the hourly rates they pay to childcare providers for the ‘free’ childcare.

So from 2024-25, the Department for Education announced nurseries in England will be paid on average £11.22 for children under the age of two, £8.28 for children aged two and over and £5.88 for children aged three and four.

With nursery places in demand, it is advisable to not leave it till the last few weeks of your maternity or paternity leave to start looking for a nursery.

What will the free hours cover?

In many nurseries the free hours will only cover the childcare so you will have to pay additionally for nappies, meals, snacks and trips out.

You can find out more about the free childcare scheme below:

How to apply for 15 hours free childcare in England – daynurseries.co.uk advice

How to apply for 30 hours free childcare in England – daynurseries.co.uk advice