Get Your 30 Free Childcare Hours: What You Need to Know Before September

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
As you probably know, we’ve been banging on about childcare for quite some time. It’s a huge talking point for parents, and we know from millions of conversations on Mumsnet just what a difference the right support can make. That’s why the government’s expanding childcare offer - with up to 30 funded hours available to working parents of children from 9 months old up to school age from September - is such big news.

So many of you tell us that support with childcare makes a real difference financially - helping you to manage the juggle of work and parenting. But it's not just about family finances. Early education helps kids develop the skills they’ll need as they start school, giving them the opportunity to make new friends, interact with other children and build confidence in a safe and caring environment.

We know that it’s sometimes a bit tricky to work out exactly what you’re eligible for and how to access it. But with such a range of support available - from funded hours to breakfast clubs to wraparound childcare - we don’t want anyone to miss out. So we’re working with the Department for Education to provide you with clear, practical information that will help you understand exactly what support you’re entitled to - and how to get it.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing loads of explanatory content as well as frequent reminders of the application deadline to get your code to start using your hours from September. You’ll also have the chance to put your questions to childcare experts in a Mumsnet Q+A.

We’ll be using this thread to signpost to everything as it happens - so watch this space. And if there’s something particular you’d like to see then please do share below.

To add, if parents are already claiming 15 hours of working parent funding and have a valid code, there is nothing else to do but continue reconfirming when you usually would. The hours will update automatically with your provider assuming you are still eligible and your setting up able to offer you an increase. You should check now if you need additional days or hours with your swtting and if there will be any additional charges for food or services that are not included in the funding.

As promised, I wanted to flag that we’ve got loads of helpful content now live on site - you can also put your questions to our childcare experts and check in with other Mumsnet users about their experiences.

Got questions about anything to do with funded childcare? Ask the experts in our on site Q+A.

If you’re using or considering using funded childcare hours share your thoughts and experiences in this Ask The Community thread.

You can also check out our content pages on school readiness, and the details of the expanded offer, as well as finding out how other parents make the most of the funded hours and wraparound childcare in our childcare diaries.

The scheme expands in September 2025: eligible children aged 9 months to school age can receive 30 hours per week

📌 What’s changing and when?

• From September 2025, eligible working parents can claim 30 hours per week of funded childcare during term time (38 weeks/year) for children aged 9 months up to school age. For children aged 3–4, this expands on the existing 30‑hour entitlement The Guardian+15childcarechoices.gov.uk+15moneyexpert.com+15.
• Currently, only parents of children aged 9 months–2 years get 15 hours per week. This was introduced in phases starting from September 2024 childcarechoices.gov.uk.