More parents will be eligible for 15 hours free childcare after new applications open in May

Thousands more parents will be able to apply for free childcare from this month.

From this September, eligible working parents of nine-month-olds will be able to claim 15 hours of free childcare a week. Applications for these places open on May 12.

To apply, you must earn a minimum of the equivalent of 16 hours a week at minimum wage, but less than £100,000 a year. This applies to both parents, if you’re in a couple.

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The free childcare rules were recently expanded so eligible working parents of two-year-olds can start claiming 15 hours a week free, all parents of three and four-year-olds can claim 15 hours a week free childcare as standard, while some working parents of children of these ages are entitled to 30 hours a week, so an additional 15 hours, depending on their earnings, reports the Mirror.

Working parents of children from the age of nine-months-old will be able to access the full 30 hours a week from September 2025, providing they are eligible. Free childcare hours are usually taken over 38 weeks (to cover term time) but you can normally spread it out to cover more weeks by using fewer hours a week.

The free hours must be used with a registered childcare minder, such as some private nurseries or state-run pre-schools. There are separate free childcare systems in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Other childcare help available

Parents can get up to £500 every three months - or £2,000 a year - for each of your children through the tax-free childcare scheme. For disabled children, the maximum amount you could get rises to £4,000.

The tax-free childcare scheme allows parents to pay into an online account, and the Government will then add a certain amount on top. For every £8 you pay into your online account, you'll get a free £2 added on by the government, up to the limits mentioned above.

This money must then be spent on a registered childcare provider. You need to be earning at least the minimum wage, for the equivalent of 16 hours a week - the same goes for your partner if you have one. Self-employed workers are also eligible if they earn this amount too.