Free Childcare for Working Parents

Skip contents

What you'll get

If your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old 

You can get 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.

You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks. 

Check with your childcare provider to find out if taking fewer hours over more weeks is something they offer.

You can search for a childminder or a nursery school place in your area, if you do not already have a childcare provider.

If your child is 2 to 3 years old and you get extra support

You can get 30 hours of free childcare through 2 separate schemes if both of the following apply:  

You’ll get: 

  • 15 hours per week if you or your child get extra support (you’ll continue to get these hours even if you are no longer eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents)
  • 15 hours per week through Free Childcare for Working Parents

You’ll get these 30 hours for 38 weeks of the year. You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks.

To apply, you need to speak to the early years team or Family Information Service at your local council. 

What counts as extra support

You’re classed as getting extra support if any of the following apply: 

  • you get Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
  • your child has an Education and Health Care plan
  • your child gets Disability Living Allowance
  • your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

Things you may be asked to pay for

Although the childcare is free, you may be asked to pay for some extras, such as:

  • meals
  • nappies
  • any additional hours on top of the 30 free hours you can get
  • additional activities, such as trips

If you do not want to pay for these extras, your provider should agree to an alternative arrangement. For example, you might be able to provide food for your child instead of paying for meals or bring nappies instead of paying for them.

You can still get the free childcare if you do not pay for any extra costs.

If your provider says you must pay for extras and will not agree to an alternative arrangement, speak to your local council.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Get childcare: step by step

  1. Step 1 Find out if you can get help with childcare costs

    1. Check what help you could get with childcare costs

    You can only get help with 'approved childcare'.

    1. Find out what 'approved childcare' is

  2. and Find where you can get childcare

    1. Find a nursery school place
    2. Find a registered childminder
    3. Search for free early education and childcare

  3. Step 2 Get help paying for childcare

    You can get help with childcare costs for children under 18. You might be able to apply for:

    You could also get free childcare when your child is aged 9 months to 4 years. You might be able to apply for:

    You can only get childcare vouchers if you have already joined a scheme.

    1. Check the rules for childcare vouchers

  4. Step 3 Check what to do if your circumstances change

    1. If you're getting Universal Credit, tell government straight away if your circumstances change

    If you're getting Free Childcare for Working Parents or Tax-Free Childcare you have to confirm if your details are up to date every 3 months.

    1. Sign into your childcare account to find out when you next have to check your details

    Your eligibility for support with childcare costs might also change.

    1. Check if your eligibility for help with childcare costs has changed

  5. Step 4 Check what to do when your child reaches school age

    1. Apply for a primary school place
    2. Find before and after school and holiday clubs

    You might be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for childcare like wraparound care, after school clubs or other activities.