Funding for Families
Childcare Support for children aged 9 months.
The government has announced new childcare offers to support working parents of children aged 9 months. These offers are being introduced from September 2024 and you can find more information at Child Care Choice.
Childcare support for 2-year-olds
Families of 2-year-olds who receive certain benefits can access up to 15 hours of funded early education with a registered childcare provider for 38 weeks of the year. Once eligibility is confirmed, eligibility will remain until school age even if a family’s circumstances change.
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be entitled to 15 hours of funded early education with a registered childcare provider for 38 weeks of the year. Parents will be able to apply and confirm their eligibility from January 2024.
Childcare support for 3- and 4-year-olds
All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of funded early education for 38 weeks of the year. This is not based on eligibility criteria and is open to all.
Eligible working parents will be entitled to an additional 15 hours of funded early education, meaning they can access up to 30 hours with a registered childcare provider for 38 weeks of the year.
Help to pay for childcare: Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-free Childcare is a government scheme to support working parents with childcare costs. If eligible, you set up an online childcare account which you can use to pay your childcare provider directly.
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.
If you get Tax-Free Childcare, the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider via an online account.
You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours of free childcare if you’re eligible for both.