PARENTS have just hours to get free childcare worth £7,500 as an important deadline looms.
Time is running out for parents looking to secure 30 hours of free childcare a week for children aged nine months to four years old.
The support is part of the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme and can help you save £7,500 a year.
But you need to apply by December 31 if you’d like to get your hours from the beginning of 2026.
That gives parents just 24 hours to get their affairs in order.
To be eligible, you and your partner, if you have one, need to be in work or about to start a new job.
You will also need to earn over a certain amount.
For example, over the next three months you and your partner must each expect to earn at least:
- £2,539.68 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £195.36 per week)
- £2,080 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £160 per week)
- £1,570.40 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £120.80 per week)
This is equivalent to the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.
Meanwhile, the childcare you intend to use must be provided by a registered provider, such as a registered nursery, playscheme or school.
You can apply for 30 hours of free childcare from when your child is 23 weeks old.
You’ll receive the free hours once your child is nine months old.
When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns nine months old.
For example, if they turn this age between September 1 and December 31, then the deadline is December 31.
Meanwhile, if your child will be nine months old between January 1 and March 31 then you need to apply by March 31.
How do I apply?
To apply, you will need to set up a childcare account.
You’ll need your (and your partner’s, if you have one):
You’ll also need:
- The UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) of any children you’re applying for
- The date you started or are due to start work (this can be approximate if it’s more than 3 months ago)
If your application is approved, you will get an 11-digit code that proves you are eligible to get free childcare.
You will need to give this code to your childcare provider.
To keep getting Free Childcare for Working Parents you must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months and confirm your details are up to date.
What help is available for parents?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
- 30 hours free childcare – Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week.
To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. - Tax credits – For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
- Childcare vouchers – If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings.
You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out.
This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers. - Tax-free childcare – Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
