Childcare
Support
Upcoming changes to childcare support
Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.
The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families. This means that:
-
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
-
From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
-
From September 2025, eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.
Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.
Sign up for more details about the upcoming expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs.
How to check your eligibility?
-
Check you are eligible - visit the Childcare Choices website.
-
Check when you can apply - you need to apply the term before you want to take up the place.
-
Apply for your childcare code - if eligible, you will get an online childcare account and a code for the funded hours.
-
Send us the code - along with your national insurance number, identification and your child’s date of birth. We will check if your code is valid.
-
Complete a parent declaration form.
-
Start accessing funded hours - we will claim funding directly from the local authority.
-
Reconfirm - you must confirm your details are up to date every 3 months or your code expires. You will receive a reminder.
