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Sign up nowParents of children over 9 months can now get 15 hours of free childcare
The second phase of the free childcare expansion has launched
Working parents of children aged between nine months and 23 months in England can now get 15 hours of free childcare per week.
This is the second phase of the free childcare expansion scheme, first revealed in the 2023 Spring Budget.
Here, Which? explains how the scheme is being rolled out, how to apply and the other childcare support you may be eligible for.
Who's eligible for the new free childcare scheme?
Parents with children aged between nine months and 23 months can now get 15 hours of government-funded childcare.
It is meant to help alleviate the soaring cost of childcare for parents. The average cost of a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two in England is £305.11 a week according to the latest Coram Childcare Survey. This is £15,865.72 a year (52 weeks).
Working parents in England who have two-year-olds have been able to register since January, with the 15 hours rolled out in April.
From September 2025, the government plans to make 30 hours of free childcare a week available to all children under school age.
Visit the government's Childcare Choices website to find out more.
How to apply
You'll need to apply on the government website.
You'll need your (and your partner's if you have one) National Insurance number to hand (or unique taxpayer reference if self-employed), the date you started or are due to start work, details of any government support or benefits you receive and your child's UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one).
Once you apply, you'll receive a code to give to your childcare provider. These codes need to be renewed every three months to reconfirm eligibility.
How helpful is the new scheme?
With childcare costs eating into parents' budgets, any government help will be warmly received.
There are still drawbacks, however. Eligible children must be receiving childcare from an approved provider. Parents unable to secure a place for their child at an approved institution won't be able to benefit from the support.
The government has increased funding for early years care across local authorities. But with many nurseries already full or near capacity, sector experts say it might not be enough, especially with free childcare due to expand to 30 hours in 2025.
Commenting on the announcement, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said earlier this year: 'While any early years funding increases are, of course, welcome, the fact is that the additional support announced today is still likely to fall short of what the sector needs to successfully deliver the 30-hours expansion in the long term.'
- Find out more: Which? baby and child reviews and advice
What other childcare support is available?
Here's a breakdown of all the childcare support currently available:
15 to 30 hours of free childcare
Children aged three and four in England are eligible for 15 free hours of childcare a week for 38 weeks a year. The care must be given by an approved provider.
All children in this age bracket are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare. Working parents may be able to get 30 hours of free childcare.
Tax-free childcare
Working parents can receive a 25% top-up from the government, based on their childcare costs.
You can get up to a maximum of £2,000 per year, which you'll get if you pay £10,000 a year for childcare.
You must be in work, and childcare must be provided by an approved person or company.
Working tax credit childcare element
If you're receiving working tax credit, you can receive up to 70% of what you pay in childcare from the government, capped at £175 a week, or £300 a week for two or more children. So you could get up to £122.50 (one child) or £210 (two or more children) a week.
Universal credit childcare element
You usually have to be in work to qualify for the childcare element of universal credit. It covers 85% of childcare costs up to a maximum of £1,014.63 per month for one child or £1,739.37 for two or more.
Other ways parents can save
Which? reviews products for babies and children throughout the year. You can get more for your money by buying the best-value goods whenever you can.
Find out how to save on:
This story has been updated since it was first published in November 2023. The last update was on 1 September 2024 with details of the second phase of the rollout.
