Information from: Start for Life, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Help parents find out what childcare support they’re eligible for
From September 2025 and in addition to the support already available, working parents may be able to access 30 hours of childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year (a normal school years’ worth of childcare).
This is all part of the government’s Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life by making high-quality early years education and childcare more affordable and accessible for working families.
For working families that may be entitled to this free childcare to start in September, the deadline is 31st August 2025.
For others, the free childcare hours start the term after children are nine months old.
How you can help
You can help working families access the support they’re entitled to by:
- Sharing this article using the share buttons below.
- Encouraging working parents and carers to visit the Childcare Choices website where there’s lots of information and an eligibility checker for the free 30 hours of childcare.
- Downloading this image and share it on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media channels you use.
- Download and print this leaflet to put on your CHC notice board, workplace, community venue, or anywhere you think it will be useful. If you would like us to print them for you, please email us at chc@vast.org.uk and we’ll get them ready for you to collect from the Dudson Centre.
Resources in other languages
If you would like to share some of these resources in other languages, please email us at chc@vast.org.uk and we’ll be able to send you some more information, print some leaflets, and share social media images for you to use. You can also download them here.
These resources come in the following languages:
- Arabic
- Bengali
- French
- Gujarati
- Italian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Punjabi
- Romanian
- Spanish
- Ukrainian, and
- Urdu.
Benefits of early years education and childcare
Research suggests that early years education and childcare helps children grow in confidence, communication, and curiosity – all through play!
Watch the video below to find out more about the benefits of early years chilcare.