Overview

• Parents of children aged nine months and older, earning at least 16 hours at minimum wage and less than £100,000 annually, can apply for 30 hours of free childcare starting in September 2025.
• The scheme, part of a phased rollout, builds on the 15-hour provision launched last September, which benefitted nearly 500,000 children.
• The Department for Education has approved funding for 300 school-based nursery projects, aiming to create up to 6,000 new childcare places, with 4,000 ready by September.
• Additional savings for families include free breakfast clubs and a school uniform cost cap, potentially increasing total annual savings to £8,000 for parents with school-aged children.
• A government consultation is exploring how nurseries can better integrate outdoor play spaces to enhance early years education and development.