30 hours free childcare

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce that the free childcare scheme for working parents is to be extended to include children aged one and two. Mr ...

At present, for children turning three between September 1 and December 31, free childcare applies for the term starting on or after January 1 and parents are urged to apply between October 15 and November 30. Figures show the UK is the third most expensive country for childcare among the 38 countries in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), behind Switzerland and New Zealand. Working parents can get double this level of support, with 30 hours of free childcare for children aged three to four if the parents each earn at least 16 hours a week on the minimum wage. Around 9 million people are economically inactive and the Government is keen to tackle the issue and remove barriers to employment. Two-year-olds can also get free childcare if they receive disability living allowance, are in the care of a local authority, or in some other circumstances. Mr Hunt at first thought this would prove too costly to deliver but has revived the idea because it will boost growth by helping people return to work.

WORKING parents in England can get help from the government paying for childcare - but who is eligible, and how do you apply?Thirty hours free childca.

[Parents](https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/parenting/) aged 23 or over will have to expect to earn at least £1,976 over the next three months. [England](https://www.thesun.co.uk/where/england/) with three and four-year-old children. [charities](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/charity/) and [pension](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/pensions/) contributions. [National Insurance](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/13539653/national-insurance-calculator-pay/) number to be eligible for the scheme, as does your partner, if you have one. Here's everything you need to know. You can also get 30 hours free childcare if you and your partner (if you have one) are on sick leave or annual leave or on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave. Once you have applied for a childcare account you get a code which you have to give to your provider. [Wales](https://www.thesun.co.uk/where/wales/), [Scotland](https://www.thesun.co.uk/where/scotland/) and [Northern Ireland](https://www.thesun.co.uk/where/northern-ireland/) have their own schemes. To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare, you have to earn a certain amount each week - equal to 16 hours a week on average at the [Universal Credit](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21716596/massive-universal-credit-rule-change-revealed/), [tax](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/hmrc/) credits, childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare. [free childcare](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/news-money/21713238/childcare-giveaway-spring-budget-2023/) and how do you apply for it? [Spring Budget](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/budget/) today the [Chancellor](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6734084/jeremy-hunt-who-conservative-mp/) [Jeremy Hunt](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/jeremy-hunt/) said the scheme will be [extended](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21705849/spring-budget-2023-latest-time-jeremy-hunt/) again to parents of children aged nine months to two-years-old.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce additional support for parents with childcare. This will come as part of the 2023 Spring Budget which will be ...

Other measures to help families struggling with This number can be expanded to 30 hours if the correct criteria is met. The plan is set to be extended to cover one and two-year-old children.

Parents of young children are today expressing frustration about the Chancellor's plan to introduce 30 hours of free childcare to one and two-year-olds, ...

Another added: 'My youngest is two in a couple of weeks. Parents of one and two-year-olds in England are set to receive 30 hours of free childcare per week during school term time [Are you eligible for free childcare? Parents of young children are today expressing frustration about the Chancellor's plan to introduce 30 hours of free childcare to one and two-year-olds, after spending thousands of pounds on nursery fees for their youngsters who are about to turn three. Working parents of children aged three and four already receive 30 hours of free care a week during school term time unless one earns more than £100,000. 'I'm sobbing gently into my scotch!' Parents with children about to turn three mourn just missing out on 30 hours a week of free childcare for one and two-year-olds in England

Chancellor set to widen eligibility of free childcare to parents of one-and-two-year-olds.

Currently all families of three and four-years-old qualify for 15 hours of free childcare a week, over 38 weeks. “We know from harsh experience that what can sound like an impressive investment in theory can end up being wholly inadequate in practice,” he said. This has got to be part of a proper reform strategy because we know that the system’s not working at the moment.” We need proper reform. You can’t always do everything at once.” Pressed on the subject of childcare provision over the weekend, Mr Hunt had said: “We would like to help everyone.

Currently, working parents with three and four-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week. The plans are part of a government drive to ...

You can also get in touch in the following ways: Jeremy Hunt said he would increase that funding "by £204m from this September rising to £288m next year. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the This is an average of a 30% increase in the two-year-old rate this year". While the chancellor has increased the amount of free childcare available for pre-school children, nurseries have been calling for more money to pay for those children who already get government-funded provision. The extension of free childcare has been lobbied for by business group the CBI, which calculates that while it will cost several billion pounds, it could raise up to £10bn in further revenue by increasing the number of parents able to work. Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and the government has been under pressure, including from some of its own MPs, to provide more help for parents. "The childcare package is expected to only get a few tens of thousands more mothers, mostly, back into work," he told the BBC. The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time. Free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025, as the chancellor looks to get more parents back to work. The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce, according to the government's independent forecaster.

Free childcare for working parents in England is set to be expanded to cover one and two-year-olds, as the Chancellor looks to get more parents back to work ...

"Already about 70% of mums with a 0-4 year-old are in some form of paid work. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt admitted it is "one of the most expensive systems in world". The sector also faces soaring energy costs and a recruitment crisis that has forced many nurseries to shut over the past few years. "In terms of a vision [this policy change] is positive," she tells the BBC. Currently, she can only afford to put her son in nursery for two days a week. But many say this does not go far enough given how high UK childcare costs are.

Jeremy Hunt has used his very first Budget to extend free childcare provision to all children under the age of five to get 'one million women back to work'.

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Student nurses are just some of the workers who will not be able to benefit from the changes. To qualify for 30 hours, parents have to earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage. ‘And it remains to be seen whether the additional funding and flexibility for the sector will be enough to spur sufficient supply by 2025. [Seven key takeaways from today’s Budget](https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/15/seven-key-takeaways-from-todays-budget-18448125/) [Energy price guarantee to remain at £2,500 for the next three months](https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/15/energy-price-guarantee-to-remain-at-2500-for-the-next-three-months-18445393/) [30 hours of free childcare for every child over the age of 9 months](https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/15/budget-30-hours-of-free-childcare-for-every-child-over-the-age-of-9-months-18445544/) [Pension changes coming in 2023 – from payment rises to tax cuts](https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/15/pension-changes-coming-in-2023-from-payment-rises-to-tax-cuts-18445336/) ‘The first five years of a child’s life are foundational to their future and so we will pay for this further down the line.’ ‘It will not make up that shortfall and we are concerned the quality of early years education will deteriorate, more providers will close and childcare professionals will leave the sector. ‘Reports suggest they will also give £288 million to make up the shortfall for the current free hours entitlement for three and four-year-olds – that is not enough. ‘Because it is such a large reform, we will introduce it in stages to ensure there is enough supply in the market. ‘From September 2024, that 15 hours will be extended to all children from 9 months up, meaning a total of nearly one million parents will be eligible. The chancellor told MPs: ‘I today announce that in eligible households where all adults are working at least 16 hours, we will introduce 30 hours of free childcare not just for three- and four-year-olds, but for every single child over the age of nine months. [Budget](https://metro.co.uk/tag/budget/?ico=auto_link_news_P1_LNK1) to extend free childcare provision to all children under the age of five to get ‘one million women back to work’.

And that will be extended to all children from nine months old after September 2024. One million more parents will be eligible for help. By September 2025, " ...

Working parents may be eligible to get up to 30 hours of free childcare if they are working at least 16 hours a week on average and earning the National Minimum Wage or more. And we can." Our female participation rate is higher than average for OECD economies, but we trail top performers like Denmark and the Netherlands. You can get up to £500 every three months - up to a maximum of £2,000 a year - for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. Almost half of non-working mothers said they would prefer to work if they could arrange suitable childcare. And they can get 30 hours of free childcare if both parents earn at least 16 hours a week on the minimum wage - up to a total of £100,000. [benefits will rise next month](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21712432/millions-households-benefits-pension-boost-budget/) [Corporation tax will rise](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/news-money/21707377/corporation-tax-will-be-hiked-to-25-per-cent/)to 25% next month [The government will extend free childcare](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/news-money/21719381/huge-30-hours-free-childcare-change-budget-2023-confirmed/)to 30 hours for one and two-year-olds At the moment all parents of three and four-year-olds get at least 15 hours a week of free help - no matter how much parents earn. The system will replicate the means-testing of the existing childcare offer for three and four-year-olds - meaning that higher earners won't be able to access it in full. [Jeremy Hunt](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/jeremy-hunt/) will extend help for working mums and dads in a bid to get more Brits back to the office and to [boost the economy.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21688160/jeremy-hunt-back-to-work-budget-over-50s/) The parents of anyone over nine months will get 30 hours of free childcare a week in future - for the first time ever - as long as both parents are working 16 hours a week. [the Energy Price guarantee was extended](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21705773/spring-budget-chanellor-energy-price-cap/) [Cigarette prices will rise](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21707287/budget-2023-price-pack-cigarettes-rise/)after the government hiked tobacco tax [Drivers won’t pay more for fuel](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/21707299/fuel-duty-frozen-win-the-sun-spring-budget/)as duty was frozen and a 5p cut will continue in a huge win for The Sun’s campaign to keep it low [The lifetime allowance on pensions will be axed](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21709558/pension-lifetime-allowance-jeremy-hunt-spring-budget-boost/)and the annual allowance will increase

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a string of changes to help people get back into employment.

Mr Hunt also announced government plans for all schools in England to offer wrap-around care either side of the school day for children by September 2026. He added: “To address this, we will fund schools and local authorities to increase supply of wraparound care so all school-age parents can drop their children off between 8am and 6pm. He added that working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free care from April 2024, helping around half a million parents. Because it is such a large reform, we will introduce it in stages to ensure there is enough supply in the market." “The 30 hours offer will now start from the moment maternity or paternity leave ends. From September 2024, that 15 hours will be extended to all children from 9 months up, meaning a total of nearly one million parents will be eligible.

The Government is expected to announce a £4bn expansion of childcare help which would see parents and carers of one- and two-year-olds eligible for 30 hours ...

“We know that the sector is facing its most challenging time in decades – settings are closing at record levels, there is a severe recruitment and retention crisis, and costs continue to soar. This is echoed by Christine Farquharson, economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies who told BBC Radio 4 Today: “The risk there is that the funding providers get for their current hours has been cut 13% in real terms since its peak in 2017. And if this reform goes ahead, that effectively closes off that channel entirely.” Meanwhile, providers are struggling with rising costs with many having already closed down. [Home](https://www.yourmoney.com)- [Household Bills](https://www.yourmoney.com/household-bills/)- [News](https://www.yourmoney.com/household-bills/news-household-bills/)- [highest childcare fees of any developed nation](https://www.yourmoney.com/household-bills/the-uk-has-the-most-expensive-childcare-costs-in-the-developed-world/), according to the OECD, and [three-quarters of mothers said it makes no financial sense](https://www.yourmoney.com/household-bills/makes-no-financial-sense-to-work-say-three-quarters-of-mothers-paying-for-childcare/) to work because of the high cost of childcare.

Chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt has finally revealed his grand plans to tackle the UK's childcare crisis. So what did he actually say?

“What are the sums needed to make that work,” she tweeted, “given teachers are already striking because of their workload.” Rachel Carrell, founder and CEO of Koru Kids, welcomed the news. - When they turn three, all children – regardless of household income – are entitled to a certain amount of these ‘free hours’ per week. He added these ratios remain optional for childcare providers and parents. But when we look closer at the detail, what does all of this actually mean for parents right now during a cost of living crisis? But those in the industry insist this is nowhere near enough. And what does it mean for the childcare system as a whole? The chancellor said people on Universal Credit who are “moving into work or want to increase their hours” will be able to get childcare support payments upfront, instead of in arrears, and the amount they can claim will increase to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two children – an increase of almost 15%. Joeli Brearley, CEO and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, said while she is “elated” to hear the childcare sector will now receive a significant investment, she is also “concerned” the money pledged is not enough to reduce costs for parents sustainably. Perhaps the most widely anticipated part of the new childcare reforms is that the ‘free hours’ scheme – which all parents of three- and four-year-olds currently benefit from – will be extended so parents of children aged nine months old and over can also benefit. The top line is that working parents of one- and two-year-olds in England will get to (eventually) benefit from an expansion of the so-called ‘free hours’ scheme – so basically, some of their childcare costs will be paid for by the government. The chancellor has also relaxed childcare staff ratios and confirmed working parents on benefits will be able to get childcare support payments upfront – and the amount they can claim will increase.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the reforms in his spring Budget speech on Wednesday lunchtime.

And from September 2025 every single working parent of under 5s will have access to 30 hours free childcare per week." From September 2024, that 15 hours will be extended to all children from 9 months up, meaning a total of nearly one million parents will be eligible. Jeremy Hunt told the Commons: "I today announce that in eligible households where all adults are working at least 16 hours, we will introduce 30 hours of free childcare not just for three and four-year-olds, but for every single child over the age of nine months.

Once a child is nine-months-old parents in England will be able to access up to 30-hours of free childcare.

You can also get in touch in the following ways: Jeremy Hunt said he would increase that funding "by £204m from this September rising to £288m next year. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the This is an average of a 30% increase in the two-year-old rate this year". While the chancellor has increased the amount of free childcare available for pre-school children, nurseries have been calling for more money to pay for those children who already get government-funded provision. The extension of free childcare has been lobbied for by business group the CBI, which calculates that while it will cost several billion pounds, it could raise up to £10bn in further revenue by increasing the number of parents able to work. Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and the government has been under pressure, including from some of its own MPs, to provide more help for parents. "The childcare package is expected to only get a few tens of thousands more mothers, mostly, back into work," he told the BBC. The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time. Free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025, as the chancellor looks to get more parents back to work. The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce, according to the government's independent forecaster.

The government will extend its free childcare programme to all children between the ages of nine months and five years in England, in a bid to help grow the ...

In addition to this, the government will increase child to carer ratios in England from 1:4 to 1:5, however Hunt said this will remain optional for nurseries. Our female participation rate is higher than average for OECD economies, but we trail top performers like Denmark and the Netherlands. To help tackle this, Hunt said the government will be increasing funding paid to nurseries providing free childcare by £204mn from this September, rising to £288mn next year.

Jeremy Hunt's new childcare scheme includes 30 free hours for children aged one and two but who is eligible? When does it start? And how do you apply?

You will be asked for both you and your partner's details (if you have one) where they will check your eligibility. Under the new government rules, you can also claim for children from nine-months-old. Check the government's website for a full list.

Parents have already described the move, unveiled as part of Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget, as 'life-changing'

And from September 2025 every single working parent of under 5s will have access to 30 hours free childcare per week.” (I) pick up the baby after lunch and finish work during her nap, every minute of childcare is spent on working hours. Currently, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to a free part-time nursery education place for 15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year. Because it is such a large reform, we will introduce it in stages to ensure there is enough supply in the market. [Jeremy Hunt told the Commons](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/budget-2023-childcare-jeremy-hunt-b2300920.html): “I today announce that in eligible households where all adults are working at least 16 hours, we will introduce 30 hours of free childcare not just for three- and four-year-olds, but for every single child over the age of nine months. “The 30 hours offer will now start from the moment maternity or paternity leave ends.

The government will fund 30 hours of free childcare a week in England for kids aged nine months to four years, Jeremy Hunt announced today.

But, she said, “it is still far short of the full-time, year-round provision working parents need to juggle full-time work, including parents doing shift work and weekend working”. (There are some further criteria relating to immigration status and whether children live with their parents, which are set out in more detail Right now, eligible parents of three and four year olds get 30 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks a year.

She now works at the nursery her daughter attends and says government funding is not enough to cover the care for younger children there and she worries what ...

Samantha, a civil servant, added: "I am completely aware it was our choice to have a child, but the fees are increasing to the point it's making us consider whether it's worth working at all, and we're not in minimum paid work. But there is still more that needs to be done to support our sector. “At Busy Bees, our focus is on giving all children the best start in life. Plus it's only given for 39 weeks of the year, which isn't enough for most working families. Do you believe the 30 hours free childcare needs to be introduced for all under fives sooner? "If our youngest had had these new free hours it would have helped us immensely. We don't have family that can help with childcare so were in a headlock with it. It's just another year we will struggle." We physically don't have the additional £125 a month so I had a complete breakdown about it. Then from September 2024, that 15 hours will be extended to all children from nine months up. The childcare sector too isn't overjoyed with the proposals either. While that is the case, it's not happening anytime soon.

Jeremy Hunt has extended the Government's offer of 30 hours of free childcare a week to parents of under-twos in his 2023 Budget. (FILES) A file photo taken ...

[Jeremy Hunt](https://inews.co.uk/topic/jeremy-hunt?ico=in-line_link) has [extended the Government’s offer](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/childcare-changes-budget-2023-uk-costs-fall-jeremy-hunt-announcement-2208533?ico=in-line_link) of [30 hours of free childcare](https://inews.co.uk/opinion/editor/politics-for-dummies-hunt-has-chance-to-transform-childcare-2209346?ico=in-line_link) a week to parents of under-twos in [his 2023 Budget](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/budget-2023-when-date-jeremy-hunt-spring-statement-start-time-predictions-2192383?ico=in-line_link). If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare account. He has also [announced additional support for parents](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/childcare-costs-go-down-budget-2023-help-parents-benefits-statement-2199961?ico=in-line_link) on [universal credit](https://inews.co.uk/topic/universal-credit?ico=in-line_link). Because it is such a large reform, we will introduce it in stages to ensure there is enough supply in the market.” “The 30 hours offer will now start from the moment maternity or paternity leave ends. [but staggered until September 2025.](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/30-hours-free-childcare-1-and-2-year-olds-when-start-support-who-eligible-explained-2210259?ico=budget_recirc) There was also a surprise abolition of the [lifetime allowance limit on pension](https://inews.co.uk/news/budget-2023-live-latest-news-jeremy-hunt-announcement-childcare-energy-bills-today-2209421?ico=budget_recirc) savings [, duty on pub pints being frozen](https://inews.co.uk/news/alcohol-duty-freeze-how-drinks-prices-affected-2023-budget-pints-cheaper-pubs-shops-2209804?ico=budget_recirc) and a tobacco duty increase taking the price of [an average 20-pack of cigarettes from £10.65 to £11.80](https://inews.co.uk/news/cigarettes-going-up-price-how-much-rise-tobacco-duty-budget-2023-cost-smoking-2209713?ico=budget_recirc). [from childcare and pensions, to tobacco and fuel.](https://inews.co.uk/news/budget-what-mean-for-me-announcements-childcare-pensions-tax-affect-money-2210856?ico=budget_recirc) Once your application has been approved, you will get a code for 30 hours free childcare to give to your childcare provider. [average price of a childcare place](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/childcare-costs-go-down-budget-2023-help-parents-benefits-statement-2199961?ico=in-line_link) for 25 hours a week is now £150.89 per week in England, with the high costs “freezing parents out of work”. You can usually get 30 hours of free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are: [The scheme was previously only available](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/30-hours-free-childcare-how-work-who-eligible-support-budget-2023-changes-explained-2209458?ico=in-line_link) to parents of three and four-year-olds in England. [part of the Chancellor’s drive](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/budget-childcare-funding-pension-health-economic-inactivity-2201696?ico=in-line_link) to encourage [more people back into the workforce](https://inews.co.uk/news/childcare-collapse-nursery-bills-jeremy-hunt-fails-funding-budget-2203324?ico=in-line_link).

JEREMY Hunt laid out plans for the UK economy during his Spring Budget, including seven big changes to childcare.Speaking in the House of Commons yest.

You should check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your 30 hours of free childcare will start. You just have to type "30 hours free childcare" into Meanwhile, you can apply for 30 hours free childcare on the government's website. When will 30 hours free childcare start? When will the 30 hours free childcare start? Then, from September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged nine months up to three years will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare a week.