30 hour free childcare offer open now to more families

2 mins read

Wednesday 28 May 2025

This applies to families in England only.

Thousands more parents are now able to apply for up to 30 hours’ free childcare from the September term.

Working parents whose child will be nine months old before 1 September 2025 will benefit from the expansion of the government’s free childcare scheme.

Working parents of nine month – two year olds currently getting 15 hours’ free childcare will see their entitlement double.

What is the government’s free childcare scheme?

For some time, working families of three- and four-year-olds have been entitled to 30 hours’ free early education/childcare for 38 weeks of the year.

In 2023, the previous government announced that entitlement would expand to all children of working parents over nine months old.

Since September 2024, working parents of children over nine months old are eligible for 15 hours’ free childcare. And from September 2025, all working parents of children over nine months will be entitled to the full 30 hours.

Who is eligible?

Aside from your child meeting the age criteria, you must be a working parent and meet certain income requirements.

We have set these out on our help with childcare costs page.

How to apply

Apply for the scheme via the gov.uk website, where you’ll be able to set up your childcare account.

Apply by 31 August, but as soon as you can to ensure you’re set up on time. You must reconfirm your entitlement every three months.

You can also find out more from Childcare Choices.

Are other parents eligible for free childcare hours?

All parents of three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours’ free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.

Parents of disabled two year olds receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan are also eligible for 15 hours’ childcare.

A two-year-old also qualifies if their parents is either:

More help with childcare costs

Visit our childcare costs webpage to find out about other childcare schemes you might be eligible for. These include the tax-free childcare scheme and childcare hours in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.