New childcare offers to support working families
From April 2024, childcare support for working families is changing.
- From April 2024, eligible 2 year olds can receive 15 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks
- From September 2024, the term following a child turning 9 months, children can receive 15 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks
- From September 2025, from the term following a child turning 9 months old to school age can receive 30 hours of funded childcare for 38 weeks
Applications for these offers is through the Childcare Choices website, applications for those families who will be eligible from 1 April 2024, can apply from 2 January 2024. For families with younger children who will be eligible from September 2024, applications can be made from 10 June 2024.
Two year old funding for families who get additional government support
Some families are eligible for 15 hours funded a week across the school year (38 weeks) with a childcare provider. Your child will be learning and playing with other children. This could also give you time (15 hours a week) to study or look for work.
You will need to meet one or more of the following criteria for your child to be eligible:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
- tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
2-year-olds can also get funded childcare if they:
- are looked after (in the care of) a council
- have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)
- get Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- have left care under an adoption order
- special guardianship order
- or a child arrangements order
Evidence such as official documentation confirming the above will need to be supplied as part of your application.
To confirm your eligibility and get your code, register on the portal.