Free Childcare for Working Parents

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When to apply

Find out when to apply for 30 hours of free childcare.

Check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your free childcare starts.

When to apply for 30 hours of free childcare

You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old.

When your child turns 9 months old  When you can get your hours from Deadline for applying
Between 1 September and 31 December 1 January 31 December
Between 1 January and 31 March 1 April 31 March
Between 1 April and 31 August 1 September 31 August

​When to apply if you’re returning to work after maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave

The date you return to work will affect when you can apply for free childcare. 

If you’re on paid annual leave and receiving your salary, this counts as having returned to work.

You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old.

Date of returning to work When you can get your hours from When to apply
Between 1 October to 31 January 1 January 1 September to 31 December
Between 1 February to 30 April 1 April 1 January to 31 March
Between 1 May to 30 September 1 September 1 April to 31 August

If you’re on shared parental leave for the child you’re applying for

You can apply if both parents have either returned or will be returning to work within one month of the start of the autumn, spring or summer term.

This means both parents must have returned or be returning to work by:

  • 30 September (for autumn term)
  • 31 January (for spring term)
  • 30 April (for summer term)

When to apply if you start a new job

You can apply for free childcare if you’re starting a new job. The date you start will affect when you can get free childcare. 

You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old.

If you apply more than 31 days before you start your new job, you need to contact the Childcare Service helpline for help with your application.

Date of starting work When you can get your hours from When to apply
Between 1 October to 31 January 1 January 1 September to 31 December
Between 1 February to 30 April 1 April 1 January to 31 March
Between 1 May to 30 September 1 September 1 April to 31 August
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 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.