In a significant policy shift, the UK government is set to introduce a new childcare initiative aimed at supporting working parents. From September 2024, eligible parents of children aged two and older will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week, with the offer set to increase to 30 hours by 2025.
This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to tackle rising childcare costs, offering much-needed relief to families struggling to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
Support for Working Families
The childcare initiative will benefit parents with children aged two or older, offering 15 hours of free early education each week. For working parents, this scheme could ease financial pressure and help families balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
As the cost of living continues to rise, childcare support has become a key priority for policymakers, aiming to provide more equitable access to early education and care.
The government’s £204 million investment in childcare providers is also designed to alleviate operational costs, such as staffing and training, ensuring that these expanded services are sustainable in the long term.
From September 2025, eligible parents will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare each week. This additional 15 hours marks a significant shift in childcare policy, aiming to support parents’ return to work while providing more affordable options for early childhood education.
The phased rollout, starting in 2024, ensures that sufficient spaces are available for all eligible families, giving providers time to implement the changes effectively.
Key Details of the Expanded Offer
The free childcare hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year, which aligns with school term times. Alternatively, they can be spread across the entire year, allowing flexibility for parents who need childcare during school holidays.
Parents can begin using their entitlement as soon as the term after they apply, with three key start dates: January 1, April 1, and September 1.
For the 2024 rollout, eligible working parents can apply if their children will be two years old by August 31, 2024. From May 2024, parents of children aged nine months to 23 months will also be able to access 15 hours of free childcare, further expanding eligibility.
