30 free hours Sept 2025

[Beachwaves127]

Morning

i re read the childcare hours and it sounds like currently 9 month - 2 year you get 15 free hours which is means tested. This also looks to be changing to 30
free hours from 1 Sept 25.
is this right?
my current dc is 2 and gets 15 free hours as we meet the means threshold. Should she get 30
hpurs from 1 sept then? And is this 30 free hours all means tested?

my second dc will start at one year old and sounds like they will get 30 free hours. Is this all means tested? Ie I know at 3 everyone qualifies for 15 free hours not means tested

Go to the childcare choices website and check your eligibility. There are some criteria around the 30 hours whereas 15 hours at three is for all 3-4yr olds.

If you are eligible you will need to get a code to give to the nursery so they can apply your funding. These need updating every three months and if you forget you will lose the funding. I think you can also set up tax free childcare vouchers through the site.

All of the hours under 3 are means tested.

Tax-free childcare is means-tested whatever the age.

I’m not sure why they have made this decision, when the 15 at age 3 are universal - nor the inconsistency in means testing for tax-free childcare and free hours.

Your post describing your current eligibility, suggests you’ll get 30 hours for both.

Because the 15 hours for younger groups and the extra 15 hours for age 3/4 are to support parents to work. The universal 15 hours is to support 3/4 in getting ready for school and to start more formal education.

It's not free for all because you have to be working no point giving a non working parent 30 hours free childcare for a 9 month old ....the 3 year old 15 hours is early education

Op there is a shortage of places so check if your setting has space. Some are not offering the full hours as they can't afford to.

@Tootsyknickers very bizarre IMO to include those earning above the threshold at age 3, but then decide to exclude them entirely from the hours at 9 months - 3 years.

Those people will be using a lot of childcare to allow them earn those salaries (and pay all that tax!), so being excluded from any support at all over that period seems extremely punitive.

The lost hours plus tax free childcare between 9 months - 3 years will cost me about ~ £10k a year, or £22,500 between 9 months - 3 years. And that’s on taxed income. It’s become a really massive penalty to be excluded from it.