Get free childcare if you're working

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What you'll get

The number of hours of free childcare you can get depends on the age of your child.

If your child is aged 9 months to 2 years old

Children aged 9 months to 2 years old currently get 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.

From September 2025 this will increase to 30 hours per week. As the deadline for applying for 15 hours of free childcare has passed, you’ll now be applying for 30 hours instead.

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 this is something they offer.

If you’re already getting 15 hours of free childcare

You’ll automatically get 30 hours of free childcare from September, as long as you’re still eligible. You’ll need to confirm your details are up to date in the usual way and give the code to your 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’re eligible for free childcare for working parents 
  • you or your child get extra support

From September 2025 you’ll get: 

  • 15 hours per week through free childcare for working parents 
  • 15 hours per week if you or your child get extra support (you’ll continue to get these hours even if you’re no longer eligible for 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

If your child is 3 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 this is something they offer.

Things you may have to pay for

Although the childcare is free, you may have to pay for some extra costs, such as:

  • meals
  • nappies
  • additional hours
  • additional activities, such as trips

Your provider should not charge you a non-refundable registration fee or any top-up fees to cover the cost of your free childcare.

Ask your provider what extra costs you will have to pay for.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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 if you're working 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.