Childcare is one of the biggest costs facing working families today.
The Government is extending their childcare offer to make it more affordable and accessible for parents to reduce the barriers that may be preventing some parents from working.
What’s changing?
At the moment, all parents in Devon are entitled to up to 15 hours a week funded childcare for children aged 3 & 4, or 30 hours for parents who work more than 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or Living Wage, but less than £100,000 per year.
Some two-year-olds are also eligible for up to 15 hours a week funded childcare if their family receive some additional forms of government support.
By September 2025, working parents of all children over the age of nine months old will be entitled to up to 30 hours a week funded childcare. The changes are happening in stages.
How do I apply for funded childcare?
You can apply for a code to get funded childcare on the Government’s website. You must do this by 31 March to access funding from 1 April.
If you are separated and jointly responsible for your child, you need to decide who should apply.
What other financial childcare help is available?
The Government’s Childcare Choices website brings together all the existing childcare offers in one place, so parents can get the help that fits their family.
This could be through Tax Free Childcare, 30 Hours Childcare, or Universal Credit Childcare. Some families might be eligible to use more than one childcare scheme together to get the most out of it.
There’s also a ‘Childcare Calculator’ to add up all the help you can get.
The ‘Help For Households’ website also has a section with advice and financial support specifically for families.
