From September, qualified working parents of nine-month-old children can apply for 30 hours of free parenting in England each week.

The government hopes the plan will bring more parents back to work, but there are serious concerns about the number of staff and locations needed.

Free parenting arrangements vary in other parts of the UK.

In England, all three and four-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of government-funded parenting regardless of the working conditions of their parents.

Other help can be provided, but it depends on the age of your child and whether you are working or receive certain benefits.

Working parents You can get:

• The government paid 9 months to 23 months of age for 15 hours of child care (in September increased to 30 hours)
• Government pays 30 hours of childcare for children aged three and four

To qualify for a new hour, most parents must earn more than £9,518, but less than £100,000 a year.

Those ones Certain benefits You can get:

• 15 hours of free parenting for two years old

If you don't work, if your partner works, or you'll get some benefits (such as maternity or paternity leave), you may still be eligible for 30 hours of free parenting.

Parents can apply for 15 hours of childcare from the time their child is 23 weeks old, and once the child is two years and 36 weeks old, they can apply for 30 hours.

After your child reaches eligible age, this right begins at the beginning of the semester.

The government website has detailed information on the deadline for applying for each age group.

During the semester, free parenting time is designed to be used within 38 weeks of the year.

However, if you use fewer hours a week, some providers will expand them in 52 weeks.

The government is increasing the hourly rates for childcare providers that pay free time.

But in many cases, this speed doesn't cover the full cost of child care. Therefore, some providers charge extra fees such as meals, diapers, sunscreen or travel.

According to a study by charities that were pregnant at the time, nearly a quarter (23%) of parents surveyed said they were unable to get free parenting time due to top-up fees.

In February, the Ministry of Education (DFE) wrote to nurseries saying parents should be able to choose not to pay these extras to “make sure no family members are priced.”

However, some providers say they use these payments to subsidize free hourly fees for three and four years old. More than 5,000 nurseries have signed an open letter to DFE, asking for a delay in the new regulations.

DFE said another 35,000 employees and 70,000 places will be needed to meet the demand by September 2025.

Education regulator OFSTED warned that access to parenting in England has been declining since 2020 and has not been evenly distributed across the country.

The so-called “parenting desert” has lower incomes and higher levels of deprivation compared to other regions.

The government has provided £600 cash incentives to those who become child laborers (or £1200 for those who join through an agency), and the company ended in March.

Throughout 2024, the staffing rate of parenting staff has increased by 6%, but the number of children providing early care in the home has been declining.

According to DFE data, while the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the total population of people aged zero to five fell by 1% per year from 2018 to 2022, the number of nurseries increased by 44,400 between 2023 and 2024, according to DFE data.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the early days were her "priority from day one". However, nursery owners believe that the government's latest fundraising rate in 2025 will not offset the cost increase.

Early Alliance charity said about 1,100 people surveyed by 185 nurseries said they “could “get out of the program within the next 12 months” due to unsustainable financial pressure.

In April, the government announced nurseries for the top 300 schools that will offer 4,000 additional locations by September 2025.

Parents may be entitled to other support, including UK-wide tax-free parenting programs.

Every £8 you are used for online parenting accounts, the government adds £2 (up to £2,000 per year, or £4,000 for children with disabilities).

You can use this money to pay for approved childcare services, such as:

• Children's clothing, nurseries and nannies
• After-school club and playback plan

Your child care provider must sign the program.

Parents who are eligible for free parenting time can also save on tax-free plans.