What are the changes?

From April 2024, eligible working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours childcare support. By September 2025, most working families with children aged between nine months and five years old 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 September 2024

15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of nine months to three-year-olds.

From September 2025

Eligible working parents of children from nine months to school age will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.

Like the existing offer, depending on each early year 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.