Parents could STILL miss out on 15 hours of free childcare in April
THOUSANDS of working parents could still miss out on free childcare from April.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in March 2023 that eligible families with children aged nine months and older will be able to claim up to 30 hours of free childcare per week by September 2025.
The changes will come in phases from April, when most working parents with two-year-old children will be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare.
This will be extended from September, so that everyone can receive the same amount of care from nine months onwards.
At the end of January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak guaranteed that parents would receive free childcare within weeks, despite fears that computer systems would not be ready in time.
But Education Minister Gillian Keegan said on Sunday she could not guarantee the Government's childcare promise would be met because it “is not in control of everything”.
Asked on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips for a guarantee that the promise will be kept, Ms Keegan said: “Guaranteeing anything in the future is something you can never do.
'All you can do is prepare all the plans and then respond if necessary.
“I am confident that all the things we have done will mean that every parent who wants a place will get a place.
“But what you're asking me to do is to personally guarantee something on behalf of tens of thousands of businesses that are working there to increase capacity and make sure we have the people in place.”
More than 100,000 parents of two-year-olds in England have already registered for codes to access the new 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare, but there are concerns about its rollout due to staffing levels, increased demand and funding uncertainty.
It follows warnings earlier this week that limited capacity within the childcare sector could mean parents in England will miss out on funded hours in their preferred childcare setting.
David Johnston, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, said on Friday that the Government cannot 'force' nurseries and childminders to offer children 'free' hours in April, when the first phase of the childcare expansion begins.
But he said the government is “strongly encouraging” institutions to make the newly funded places available, as he argued that childcare providers have received “significant increases” in funding rates to be able to offer this.
Nurseries, nurseries and childminders in England are being inundated with calls and emails from families wanting to take up funded places.
On Friday, the DfE announced a trial of £1,000 sign-on bonuses for new starters and returners to the early years sector across 20 local authorities, as part of efforts to boost the capacity of the system.
But parents wanting to take up the new funded places on offer this year are facing long waiting lists in some parts of the country as providers are full.
Joeli Brearley, founder of the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, said: “The Government's position has always been that every eligible two-year-old will have access to these new funded hours. It seems that with reality biting, they are now on their way back. “
She added: “Many parents are waiting in uncertainty as to whether their nursery will offer these new funded hours. Meanwhile, providers are unable to plan effectively. It beggars belief that anyone thought it wise to set a deadline for the funding rate the day before the settlement. will be rolled out.”
“If the Government is serious about building an affordable childcare sector in Britain, it must be properly funded. As it stands, access to affordable childcare risks becoming a postcode lottery for parents,” Ms Brearley said.
Who is eligible for free childcare?
Free childcare was first introduced in 2010 and has expanded since then.
Currently, you can get help paying for childcare for three and four year olds through the program in England.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes.
Currently, you can get 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks a year (during the school season).
But you must receive childcare from a recognized provider and the assistance stops when your child starts childcare at school.
Some parents can get up to 30 hours of free childcare, depending on their circumstances.
You can get it while claiming Universal Credit, tax benefits, childcare vouchers or tax-free childcare.
Some parents can also get free childcare hours for two-year-olds.
You can get help in this case if you live in England and have certain benefits, including:
- Income support
- income-related jobseeker's benefit (JSA)
- means-tested employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 per year or less, after tax, excluding benefits
- the guaranteed part of the Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both) and your household income is £16,190 per year or less before tax
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week continuation (the benefit you receive if you are no longer eligible for the Working Tax Credit)
Two-year-olds can also receive free childcare if they are in the care of a local authority, have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, receive disability living allowance or have left care under an adoption order, a special guardianship order or order children's packages.
From April 2024, most working parents of two-year-olds will have access to 15 hours of free childcare.
From September this will be extended to working parents of all children over nine months.
And from September 2025, working parents of children under the age of five will be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week.
What are the rules for working parents?
To qualify for free childcare, you must earn a certain amount of money every week.
Working parents who earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year are eligible.
This amounts to an average of at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage.
For couples, the rules apply to both parents, so both must earn at least £8,670, and neither can earn more than £100,000.
On the Childcare Choices website you will find more information about the exact criteria, for example whether parents work irregularly or receive certain allowances.
How do you apply for extra childcare?
You sign up on the same government website where parents of three and four year olds sign up for their existing 30 hours.
Sign in your account on the Gov.UK website or create a new one.
To log in you will need a Government Gateway user ID.
Once your application has been approved, you will receive a code that you must provide to your provider.
Crucially, you must reconfirm your eligibility every three months.
The recommended time to register for the new support is between mid-January and the end of February, so parents do not have to reconfirm their eligibility before taking up a place.
You can apply outside of recommended government hours, but you may not receive a code in time to get help as quickly as possible.
It usually takes 20 minutes to submit an application. You may know right away if you qualify, but keep in mind this could take up to seven days.