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Applications now open for 30 hours of free childcare
The third phase of the free childcare expansion will launch in the autumn
All children under school age of working parents will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week from September.
This is the third and final phase of the free childcare expansion scheme, first revealed in the 2023 Spring Budget.
Here, Which? explains how the scheme is being rolled out, how to apply and the other childcare support you may be eligible for.
Who's eligible for the new free childcare scheme?
Currently, working parents are eligible for 15 free hours of childcare for children aged between nine months and two years, and 30 hours for three to four-year-olds.
As of September, this will be extended to 30 hours per week for all children under school age.
It's meant to help alleviate the soaring cost of childcare for parents. The average cost of a full-time nursery place (50 hours a week, including 15 free hours) for a child under the age of two in England is £202.11 a week, according to the latest Coram Childcare Survey. This works out as £10,509.72 a year (52 weeks).
Working parents in England with children who will be nine months old before 1 September can now apply, with the 30 hours rolled out in September.
Visit the government's Childcare Choices website to find out more.
How to apply
Applications for the latest expansion of the free childcare scheme opened on 12 May.
If you don't currently claim free childcare, you'll need to apply on the government website.
You'll need your (and your partner's if you have one) National Insurance number to hand (or unique taxpayer reference if you're self-employed), the date you started or are due to start work, details of any government support or benefits you receive and your child's UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one).
Once you apply, you'll receive a code to give to your childcare provider. To reconfirm eligibility, these codes need to be renewed every three months.
If you're already claiming 15 hours of free childcare, you don't need to reapply – just keep confirming your details are up to date in the usual way. If you're eligible, your code will be automatically updated to reflect the additional hours.
How helpful is the new scheme?
With childcare costs eating into parents' budgets, any government help will be welcome.
However, there are still drawbacks. Eligible children must be receiving childcare from an approved provider. Parents unable to secure a place for their child at an approved institution won't be able to benefit from the support.
The government has increased funding for early years care across local authorities. But with many nurseries already full or near capacity, sector experts say it might not be enough.
Commenting on the announcement in 2024, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: 'While any early years funding increases are, of course, welcome, the fact is that the additional support announced today is still likely to fall short of what the sector needs to successfully deliver the 30-hours expansion in the long term.'
- Find out more: Which? baby and child reviews and advice.
What other childcare support is available?
Here's a breakdown of all the childcare support currently available:
15 to 30 hours of free childcare
All children aged three and four in England are eligible for 15 free hours of childcare a week for 38 weeks a year, regardless of whether their parents work or not. The care must be given by an approved provider.
Working parents can currently receive 15 hours of childcare per week for children aged between nine months and two years, and 30 hours for children aged three to four.
If you receive benefits, you may be able to get 15 hours of free childcare for children aged between nine months and two years.
Tax-free childcare
Working parents can receive a 25% top-up from the government, based on their childcare costs.
You can get up to a maximum of £2,000 per year, which you'll get if you pay £10,000 a year for childcare.
You must be in work and childcare must be provided by an approved person or company.
Universal credit childcare element
You usually have to be in work to qualify for the childcare element of universal credit. It covers 85% of childcare costs up to a maximum of £1,031.88 a month for one child, or £1,768.94 a month for two or more.
Other ways parents can save
Which? reviews products for babies and children throughout the year. You can get more for your money by buying the best-value goods whenever you can.
Find out how to save on:
This story has been updated since it was first published in November 2023. The last update was on 20 May 2025 with details of the third phase of the roll-out.
