Who can get 15 and 30 hours of free childcare?

Free childcare is available in the UK for eligible families to help with the cost of early education and childcare. There are two main schemes offering free childcare hours – the 15 hours and 30 hours entitlements.

The 15 hours of free childcare is available to all 3 and 4-year-olds in England, regardless of their parents’ income. This entitles children to 15 hours of free early education and childcare per week for up to 38 weeks a year.

The 30 hours of free childcare is available to working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds in England who meet certain criteria. Parents must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage and no more than £100,000 per year.

Other eligibility criteria include being a single parent in work, both parents in a two-parent household must be in work, or a parent is in a couple and one is receiving disability benefits.

Parents can check their eligibility and apply for both schemes through the government’s Childcare Choices website.

For families who are eligible, accessing free childcare can help ease the financial burden of childcare costs and support children in their early development and learning.

Overall, the 15 and 30 hours of free childcare entitlements aim to support working families and provide children with access to high-quality early education and care, setting them on a path for future success.

Ensuring that all children have equal access to early childhood education and care is essential for promoting positive outcomes in their later years.