30 hours funded entitlement

Childcare support is expanding, with significant changes coming to 30 hours free childcare in England. Click here for more details. 

The upcoming expansion

Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.

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

• From April 2024, 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 working parents of all children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
• From September 2025, working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.

Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week. 

Eligibility criteria will apply and there will be an application process.

The existing entitlement

To see information about the current 30 hours entitlement, please visit our page on Free early education for three and four year olds