Parents of children from nine months old can now apply for 15 hours of free childcare.
The government hopes the scheme will get more parents back to work but there are serious concerns about the number of staff and places needed.
What free childcare can I get?
Extra help with childcare costs in England is being rolled out in stages. Some free hours were already available.
The help you can get depends on the age of your child, and whether you are working, or receiving certain benefits.
Working parents can get:
To qualify for the new hours, the majority of parents must earn more than £8,670, external, but less than £100,000 per year.
Those on certain benefits can already get:
If you don’t work, you might still be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare, external if your partner works, or you receive certain benefits.
How do working parents apply for free childcare hours?
Parents should apply before the start of the term when their child will be eligible.
You are advised to apply, external as soon as possible.
Applications for parents of children from nine-month-olds to 23 months have opened for the September term.
You have to reconfirm your details every three months so if you do apply now, remember you will have to confirm your details haven’t changed before term begins.
Parents of two, three and four-year-olds who are eligible for 15 or 30 hours from September can also apply.
Image source, Getty Images
Research shows the lack of affordable childcare is a barrier for many people hoping to work
Once approved, you’ll get a code to give to your officially-registered childcare provider, external.
Free childcare hours are designed to be used over 38 weeks of the year – during school term time.
However, some providers will stretch them over 52 weeks if you use fewer hours per week.
The government website has details of the deadlines to apply for each age group, external.
What isn’t covered by the free childcare hours?
The government is increasing the hourly rate it pays childcare providers offering free hours.
However, in many cases, this rate does not cover the full cost of the childcare. So, some providers charge for extras like meals, nappies, sun cream or trips.
The Department for Education says all additional costs are voluntary, and parents should be told they can supply their own food and supplies to make their child
