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<p>In the Spring Budget 2023 on 15 March, the government announced a number of transformative
reforms to childcare for parents and children. This includes the expansion of the
30 hours free childcare offer, where eligible working parents in England will be able
to access 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year, from when their
child is 9 months old to when they start school.</p><p>The government expects to be
spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education by 2027/28,
helping working families with their childcare costs. This announcement represents
the single biggest investment in childcare in England.</p><p>Eligible working parents
of 3 and 4-year-olds are currently eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week,
over 38 weeks a year. From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able
to access 15 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From September
2024, this will be extended to parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds, over 38 weeks a
year. From September 2025, working parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds will be able
to access 30 free hours per week, over 38 weeks a year.</p><p>To be eligible for this
offer, as with the current 30 hours offer, parents will need to earn the equivalent
of 16 hours a week at national minimum or living wage, and less than £100,000 adjusted
net income per year. The income eligibility criteria are applied on a per parent basis,
so working parents who individually earn more than £8,670 from April but less than
£100,000 adjusted net income per year are eligible. In a two-parent family, both parents
must meet these thresholds, unless one partner receives certain benefits. In a single-parent
household, the single parent must meet these income thresholds.</p><p>The reforms
announced build on our current early education entitlements that the government offers,
which includes a universal 15 hour offer for all 3 and 4-year-olds, a 15 hour offer
for the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds, the existing 30 hours offer for 3 and 4-year-olds,
Tax-Free Childcare, and Universal Credit Childcare.</p><p>Further information on the
support available to parents is available at: <a href="https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/"
target="_blank">https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/</a>.</p>
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