Childcare Support is Expanding | Ask Lion - Nottingham City Directory

Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases.

The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families.

This means that:

From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
From September 2025, eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.

Please note that the new entitlements listed below are additional to the existing ones, namely the Free Childcare for disadvantaged 2 Year Olds and the 30 hours Free Childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

If your child claims Disability Living Allowence (DLA) their childcare setting will be able to claim Disability Access Funding (DAF) for Eligible 2 year olds from April 1^st2024 and for 9 months to 5 years from September 2024 (not in a reception class)

Further information can be found at Upcoming changes to childcare support

From April 2024

Free childcare for working parents of 2 year olds from April 2024.

The first roll-out of the extension to the early years funding is from April 2024.

Children will need to have reached their second birthday on or before 31^st March 2024. Their parents will need to have successfully applied for, and be in receipt of, a code by the 31^st March 2024 deadline to be eligible to access childcare from April 2024.

From April 2024: working parents of 2 year olds can get 15 hours childcare

For eligible working families in England
Each parent earning under £100k per year and at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage)
With a 2-year-old child
15 hours of childcare or early education for 38 weeks
A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare providers

When to apply for funding for 2 year olds

If your child's 2^nd birthday falls between	You can get 15 hours funding from	Best time to apply
1^st April to 31^st August 2023	School term starting on 1^st April 2024	January to March 2024
1^st September to 31^st December 2023	School term starting on 1^st April 2024	January to March 2024
1^st January to 31^st March 2024	School term starting on 1^st April 2024	January to March 2024
1^st April to 31^st August 2024	School term starting on 1^st September 2024	June to August 2024

Apply here for free childcare if you're working

From September 2024

Free childcare for working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years from September 2024

The second roll-out of the extension to the early years funding is from September 2024.

Children will need to have reached 9 months of age on or before 31^st August 2024. Their parents will need to have successfully applied for, and be in receipt of, a code by the 31^st August 2024 deadline to be eligible to access childcare from September 2024.

From September 2024: working parents of children aged 9 to 23 months ‐ 15 hours childcare

For eligible working families in England
Earning under £100k per year and at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage)
With a child between 9 and 23 months old
15 hours of childcare or early education for 38 weeks
A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare providers

When to apply for funding for children aged 9 months to 2 years

If your child turns 9 months old between	You can get 15 hours funding from	Best time to apply
1^st April to 31^st August 2024	School term starting on 1^st September 2024	June to August 2024
1^st September to 31^st December 2024	School term starting on 1^st January 2025	October to December 2024
1^st January to 31^st March 2025	School term starting on 1^st April 2025	January to March 2025

From September 2025

30 hours free childcare for working parents from September 2025

The third and final roll-out of the extension to the early years funding is from September 2025.

This stage will see the previous 15 hours funding increase to 30 hours for all eligible working families with children aged 9 months up to when they start school.

Eligibility criteria will be the same as the previous April and September roll‐outs of 15 hours, and funding will be available from the term after the child reaches qualifying age.

From September 2025: working parents of children aged 9 to 23 months ‐ 30 hours childcare

For eligible working families in England
Earning under £100k per year and at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage)
With a child between 9 and 23 months old
30 hours of childcare or early education for 38 weeks
A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare providers

Contacts

→ Childcare Choices website

→ Apply here for free childcare if you're working

→ In order to make an application, parents need to open an online account through the Government Gateway webpage

→ If you have any problems with application process, accessing your childcare account or need to apply over the phone, please contact the HMRC Childcare Service helpline tel: 0300 123 4097

→ If you need help with finding Childcare in Nottingham City, please contact the Families Information Service on telephone: 0115 8765910 or use this form to contact the Families Information Service team

Related Advice

Free childcare for working parents of 2 year olds

Applications are now open for eligible working parents of 2-year-olds to receive 15 hours free childcare, starting from April 2024.
It’s the first step in our promise to expand the 30 hours free childcare scheme for working parents from when their child turns nine months…