You’re probably aware that free childcare hours are already offered to children aged three to four. But as of April 2024, free childcare for children under the age of three will be offered across England, with different rules applying to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The UK government announced the scheme as part of the Spring Budget 2023, changing how free childcare hours will be calculated for pre-school-age children, with the first step being the roll out of free nursery hours for two-year-olds.
In this article, we’re shedding some light on how the new rules will work for both parents and caregivers. Read on to find out if you’re eligible, when your child or children can start nursery for free and how you can access the free nursery hours. And, if you’re a childcare provider, we’re sharing our top tips on how to use the new rules to your advantage.
Am I eligible for free nursery hours?
Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for 15 or 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. Even if you aren’t eligible now, you might be in the near future thanks to the recent extension of free nursery hours for two-year-olds and, eventually, all children under the age of five. These free hours stop when your child starts school.
30 free nursery hours
At present, working parents or carers of children aged three to four are entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week. Your eligibility depends on the following criteria:
- Your child’s age and circumstances.
- Whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director).
- Your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one).
- Your immigration status.
As of September 2025, working parents of children under five will be eligible to claim 30 hours of free childcare per week.
15 free nursery hours
Whether or not you’re working, all parents of children aged three to four are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week. Currently, parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours a week of free childcare if they receive income support benefits and earn less than £15,400 per year. As of April 2024, 15 hours of free childcare will also be extended to working parents of two-year-olds.
For more on the specific eligibility requirements, head to the gov.uk website. It’s important to note that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules for eligibility of free childcare hours.
When can my child start nursery for free?
This is the burning question that many parents are asking themselves. Before you get too excited at the prospect of free childcare hours and the impact that this will have on your family, know that you have to follow a few steps to access the hours. Unfortunately, you don’t just automatically get granted free childcare hours and a place at your local nursery when your child turns two or three. Accessing the free nursery hours involves taking some timely action on your end.
How to apply for free nursery hours
Make sure you apply in plenty of time to have the best chance of getting a nursery or childminder place for your child. The recommendation is to apply the term before your child will start. To calculate the time of year to apply depending on when your child’s birthday falls, check out this simple calculator.
Once eligibility is confirmed, you can start the application process here and you’ll be given a code. Please note that at the time of writing, there have been some IT issues with accessing the code, which the government is making an effort to iron out.
Once you’ve given your code to your childcare providers — either a childminder or a nursery — you need to reconfirm your details every three months or your code will expire. You’ll be sent reminders to do this but it’s a good idea to note it down in your digital calendar too, so you don’t forget. For more on how the application process works, take a look at this short video.
How to make the most of the free childcare hours as a parent
Here is what you should do — and when — to get the full benefits of cost-free childcare. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- These free childcare hours can be claimed in both nurseries and with childminders.
- Even if your child is not yet eligible for free nursery hours, try to opt for childcare provision that allows easy or even automatic transition into free care when your child becomes eligible. Preferably, they will also allow flexibility in terms of when you can take this provision.
- Remember that the free nursery hours are not means tested for three and four-year-olds, so be sure to claim them.
- Applications opened on 2 January 2024 and there have been reports of technical difficulties, so allow plenty of time to apply wherever possible.
Who is not eligible for free nursery hours?
Not every pre-school-age child is eligible for free nursery hours. Here are some situations in which free childcare hours cannot be accessed or need to be accessed in a different manner:
- You are not eligible if your child does not normally live with you.
- You might not be eligible if you don’t earn over a specified amount for your age group, whether you’re employed or self-employed.
- If you foster your child and want to apply, you need to speak to your social worker and local authority.
- The childcare provider must be approved, meaning that informal providers such as grandparents or friends do not count and cannot be remunerated for taking care of your children.
- You may still be eligible if your partner is working and you are receiving certain benefits.
What other childcare options are available if I’m not eligible for free nursery hours?
If you’re not eligible for free childcare hours, all is not lost. There are other childcare options out there and they may even suit you and your family better than nurseries. Here are some pros and cons of nurseries versus nannies and childminders so you can weigh them up and see the benefits of hiring a private childcare provider. You might even find that the pros outweigh the cons.
Are you worried about how to make your childcare budget stretch, especially if you’re not (yet) eligible for free childcare hours? Here are some great tips. Remember: if you have multiple children under school age, hiring a nanny may actually end up cheaper, even with the extended free childcare hours. You can find a range of flexible childcare options by using our care search function on our UK website.
How can caregivers make the most of the new rules?
Even with the new extension of eligibility for free childcare places, that doesn’t mean there are enough childcare places to meet demand. The number of childcare places are in decline and between 2013 and 2023, the number of childminders in England fell by 50%.
The bottom line is that nurseries don’t have enough spaces to meet demand and, with waiting lists currently at 12 to 18 months, many parents will be looking at all other available options. This means childminders and nannies are — and will continue to be — very much in demand.
Can childminders offer government-funded hours?
Childminders can choose to offer government-funded childcare hours. While it’s not obligatory to do so, it might be a good move if you’re looking to attract clients with pre-school-age children, as there is certainly demand. However, to be eligible to offer government-funded hours, you must be registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register and have an outstanding, good or satisfactory Ofsted rating. More information can be found here. It’s important to note that the amount childminders receive for the government-funded places is variable, as this is determined by local authorities.
If you’re eligible, you can make flexibility your selling point to parents looking for care beyond the 38 weeks offered at nurseries. As a childminder, you’re able to offer the government-funded hours over a 52-week period by reducing the number of hours per week. This may be attractive to working parents looking for year-round care, as finding care in the school holidays can be stressful.
Can nannies offer government-funded hours?
Nannies are currently excluded from the government’s 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme but there are calls to include them to help offer more choice and flexibility to working parents, especially those in rural areas where childcare options may be limited.
