AfC Info website - Kingston and Richmond

Changes to childcare support - expansion to childcare entitlements for eligible working families

15 and 30 hours childcare

The current offer

In England, all parents and carers of 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week childcare support with registered childcare providers. Eligible working parents and carers of children aged 3-4 can also get an additional 15 hours childcare support, bringing their total up to 30 hours a week.

Some parents of 2-year-old children may also be entitled to 15 hours per week childcare support if they receive some additional forms of government support or if the child has a statement of educational needs (SEN), the child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the child receives Disability Living Allowance, the child is looked after by the local authority or a child has left care through a special guardianship order, an adoption order or child arrangements order.

Your entitlement hours can be used per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time). You may be able use your entitlement hours for up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare or the Universal Credit Childcare Cost element whilst claiming your 15 or 30 hours of childcare support.

What's changing

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 childcare 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 per week childcare support, starting from the term following the child's second birthday.

From September 2024 15 hours per week childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months, starting from the term after the child is 9 months old. 

From September 2025, eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours per week of childcare support.

Like the existing offer, depending on your childcare 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 and your childcare provider is able to offer this arrangement.

Sign up for more details about the upcoming expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs here - www.childcarechoices.gov.uk