Overview

• Parents in England must apply or renew their childcare code by August 31 to secure up to 30 hours of funded care per week from September for children aged nine months to four years.
• Parents must register via GOV.UK or the HMRC app to receive an 11-digit eligibility code for their childcare provider.
• Each parent needs to earn at least £166 per week and under £100,000 per year to qualify, with HMRC estimating savings of about £2,000 per child or £4,000 for disabled children.
• Children under two who already receive 15 free hours will automatically shift to 30 hours from September once parents provide the new eligibility code.
• Local nurseries warn that staffing shortages and limited places may affect access even for families with approved codes.