Wed, 27 Aug 2025

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 How can working parents get 30 hours of free childcare?

Free childcare support for working parents varies across the UK, depending on the child's age.

* Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urges eligible parents to apply for extra government-funded childcare hours starting in September.
* Working parents with children aged 9-36 months can access up to 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time.
* The average cost of a full-time nursery place for under-2s has decreased by 22% from £12,525 in 2024 to £12,425 in 2025.
* Wales is the most expensive place in Great Britain for under-2s, with an average cost of £15,038.
* The government's expanded childcare scheme will require an additional 35,000 staff and 70,000 places by September 2025.
* There are concerns about the uneven distribution of childcare places across the country, particularly in areas known as "childcare deserts".
* Early years charities have expressed concern that disadvantaged two-year-olds are missing out on free hours due to incorrect recording of statistics.
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