Free childcare in England 2025 | Eligibility

Childcare costs

Childcare costs can take a big chunk out of a family budget, with the UK being one of the most expensive countries in the world for childcare.

So parents in England welcomed the news that the government has expanded its 15 hours free childcare scheme. This means that children as young as nine months of working parents are now entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week.

The free hours are for 38 weeks a year which is the same as school term-time.

What free childcare can parents in England get?

All three and four-year-olds in England, regardless of their family income, already get 15 hours of free childcare a week. Two-year-olds from low-income families or who are vulnerable have also been able to get 15 hours of free childcare a week.

Since 2017, working parents of three and four-year-olds have been able to claim 30 hours of free childcare.

As of September 2025, all working parents of children from the age of nine months can get 30 hours free childcare.

The government said it has no plans to offer free childcare to babies under nine months.

Children aged nine months and over get 15 hours free childcare

Children aged nine months and over of working parents are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week.

Parents will need to confirm their eligibility for the government funded hours every three months.

Children aged nine months and over get 30 hours free childcare

From September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged from nine months up to when they start school are entitled to 30 hours of free childcare a week.

The eligibility criteria is the same as the 30 hours currently offered to working parents of three and four-year-olds.

Three and four-year-olds of parents who work and earn at least 16 hours a week on at least the National Minimum Wage and earn less than £100,000 are entitled to 30 hours free childcare a week.

What free childcare am I eligible for?

The offer of free childcare only applies to working parents who as individuals earn over £8,670 and less than £100,000. The rule applies to both parents.

You have to use ‘approved childcare’ that is registered with Ofsted.

‘Approved childcare’ includes:

• Nursery, nursery school, pre-school or children’s centre
• After-school clubs and play schemes
• Childminder or nanny
• School

Will nurseries have the extra childcare places?

The expansion of the free childcare scheme will inevitably put more pressure on nurseries for places and create more demand. The Department for Education (DfE) distributes early years funding to local authorities using the Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF).

The DfE has published the funding rates for April 2025-26.

Nurseries in England will be paid on average:

• £11.54 for children under the age of two

• £8.53 for children aged two and over

• £6.12 for children aged three and four.

With nursery places in demand, it is advisable to not leave it till the last few weeks of your maternity or paternity leave to start looking for a nursery.

What will the free hours cover?

In many nurseries the free hours will only cover the childcare so you will have to pay additionally for nappies, meals, snacks and trips out.

You can find out more about the free childcare scheme below:

How to apply for 15 hours free childcare in England – daynurseries.co.uk advice

How to apply for 30 hours free childcare in England – daynurseries.co.uk advice