15 hours free childcare explained including how to apply and who is eligible
Free childcare in England is now available to more parents after the eligibility rules were expanded to include younger children.
The standard entitlement is 15 hours a week - but some parents are entitled to an additional 15 hours on top, taking it to 30 hours a week. Working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours a week free childcare from April 2024 - but applications to secure a place for your child opened yesterday.
Previously, free childcare was only available three and four-year-olds. Free childcare rules will then be expanded again in September 2024 to include the parents of children aged nine months to 23 months, who will also be able to apply for 15 hours a week. All eligible children under the age of five will then qualify for 30 hours a week from September 2025.
To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare, parents must earn a minimum of the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage, but less than £100,000 a year. This applies to both parents, if you’re in a couple, as well as single parents.
Free childcare hours are usually taken over 38 weeks - but you can normally spread it out to cover more weeks by using fewer hours a week. The free hours must be used with a registered childcare minder, such as some private nurseries or state-run pre-schools. There are separate free childcare systems in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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How to apply for free childcare
You can register for free childcare through GOV.UK. When you're applying, you'll need your National Insurance number or if you're self-employed, your Unique Taxpayer Reference.
You’ll also need the UK birth certificate reference number of any children you’re applying for and the date you started, or are due to start, work. If you're married or in a civil partnership, or living together as though you are, then you must include your partner in your application.
You and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child. Once your application is approved, you will receive a code to give to your childcare provider. It can take up to seven days for your application to be approved.
When can I apply for free childcare?
It all depends on how old your child is. If you're eligible for 15 hours, you can apply from when your child is one year and 36 weeks old, or for 30 hours, you can apply when your child is two years and 36 weeks old.
If your child's birthday is between September 1 and December 31, they can get their hours from January 1. If their birthday is between January 1 and March 31, they can get their hours from April 1.
For children born between April 1 and August 31, their hours will start from September 1. You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts, so make sure you apply in plenty of time.
What other childcare help is available?
Eligible parents can get up to £500 every three months - or £2,000 a year - for each of your children through the tax-free childcare scheme. For disabled children, the maximum amount you could get rises to £4,000.
The tax-free childcare scheme allows parents to pay into an online account, and the Government will then add a certain amount on top. For every £8 you pay into your online account, you'll get a free £2 added on by the government, up to the limits we mentioned above.
This money must then be spent on a registered childcare provider. You need to be earning at least the minimum wage, for the equivalent of 16 hours a week - the same goes for your partner if you have one. Self-employed workers are also eligible if they earn this amount too.
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