Free childcare funding for children from nine months to four years

From September 2025, 15 hours for eligible working families will expand to 30 hours, meaning eligible working parents can now apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns nine months until they reach school age. 

If you currently receive 15 hours for working families, just reconfirm as usual and the code will work for the 30 hours offer in September, providing you remain eligible, and your provider has confirmed your new attendance pattern for your increased hours. 

What makes you eligible?

• both parents are working, or one parent is working in lone parent families. This is defined as earning the equivalent of 16 hours per week on national minimum wage/national living wage, but less than £100,000 per year. This applies for self-employed and zero-hour contracts.
• both parents are employed but one or both of them are temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
• both parents are employed but one or both of them are temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay.
• one parent is employed, and one parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring.
• one parent is employed, and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on specific benefits.

How to apply?

Applications for working parents of nine months old, will open from 12 May on the Childcare Choices website. Applications for Autumn Term (September to December) must be made by 31 August.

The online application process will tell you the full eligibility criteria and what you need to provide when you apply.

You should find out if you are eligible straight away, but it can take up to seven days. It is advisable to apply before mid-August.

When you can access the working parent offer

If you wish to use your entitlements later than the term after your child turns the relevant age, you can apply closer to the time you wish to start. Provided you still meet the eligibility criteria for that entitlement at that time, you will not lose your ability to apply.

What happens next?

If approved, a childcare account will be set up and you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider to access the funding.

To keep getting free childcare, you must reconfirm your eligibility by signing in to your childcare account every three months. If you apply more than three months before the term starts, you’ll have to reconfirm your eligibility in your account to keep your code valid.

Places will be available for September in every area of the country, but a significant minority of settings hold waiting lists of over six months. If you have a preferred nursery for September, you should reach out now to secure a place for your child ahead of receiving your code.