Wiltshire Council promotes expansion of childcare support for working parents
Childcare support is expanding from April and even more eligible working parents can receive extra help for their childcare costs.
Childcare support is expanding from April and even more eligible working parents can receive extra help for their childcare costs.
Applications are now open in England for eligible parents with a child who turns two on or before 31 March to claim up to 15 hours of childcare per week term time.
Parents can apply for their hours on GOV.UK (opens new window) where they will receive their code which they will need to share with their childcare provider. To continue receiving the government support, parents will need to reconfirm their details every three months on their gov.uk account.
Depending on the eligibility criteria, the financial support available is not limited to nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, it could also be used for Ofsted registered breakfast clubs, after school clubs, activity clubs, home care workers and play schemes.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children's services, said: We know there are many families who will be looking for childcare and this expansion of early education entitlements will offer more support for working parents.
Many people have to juggle working alongside being a parent so we hope that this extra support will make it easier for parents to find affordable childcare.
Further support will be available from September with the 15 hours of childcare expanding to eligible working parents in England for their children from the term after they turn nine months old. From September 2025 this will increase to 30 hours of childcare per week term time from the term after the child turns nine months until they reach school age.
This comes alongside the existing government childcare support, including 30 hours for three and four year-olds, Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) and Universal Credit Childcare. Parents might be able to use more than one offer to help with their childcare costs.
To find out more about the expansion of early education entitlements, parents can visit Childcare Choices (opens new window).
Parents looking for childcare can visit Parent Portal (opens new window) where they can view all of the childcare providers in the area.