Parents are being urged to apply for free childcare within the next three days – or risk losing out on support worth up to £7,500 a year.
Under current rules, working parents of nine-month-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare a week if they meet certain criteria. This is being expanded to 30 hours a week from September – but you must apply now to make sure you get the help in time.
If your child is between the age of nine months and two years old, you must be in work and earning the equivalent of the national minimum wage or for 16 hours a week, on average, but less than £100,000 a year, to qualify for free childcare.
This applies to both parents if you’re in a couple. All parents of children aged three and four years old are entitled to 15 hours free childcare a week, regardless or whether they are in work or not.
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Working parents with children of these ages can claim the full 30 hours if they meet the earnings criteria that we’ve mentioned above.
Free childcare is normally spread over 38 weeks to cover term time, but you can normally use 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.
The rules above apply to England, as there are different childcare systems in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You have to register for free childcare through GOV.UK.
This comes as £600 million is also being invested to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme for another three years. This supports children from lower-income families by providing free meals and enriching activities during school holidays.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme helps parents to make savings of over £300 a year.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “Giving every child the best start in life is my number one priority, which is why we are delivering on our commitment to provide hundreds of thousands of children with 30 hours government-funded early education.
“Whether it’s to save up to £7,500 a year, support parents to get back to work or reduce the pressure on grandparents who so often have to step in, the benefits are widespread.
“The offer is just around the corner, and so I’m urging every eligible parent who wants it, to take it up.”
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