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Free Childcare for under one and two year olds: What does this mean?

Last Updated on April 7, 2025

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Today it has been confirmed in the Spring Budget 2023 released by the Government that the childcare sector has been provided with a solution to rising costs for parents: 30 hour free childcare funding is now expanding to children down to nine-months-old.

Our very own Cary Rankin, CEO of Thrive Childcare & Education, did an interview on this budget reform and what it looks like for us, our nurseries.

Click to see video

We know so far that the plans for this are staggered, starting in 2024 and to be in full effect by September 2025 across Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland and that it will take time for our parents to feel the full benefit of free childcare and funding support. In the meantime, we have provided some useful links to some articles below, the current Government Childcare Calculator to help check your eligibility and the Spring Budget 2023 Factsheet to answer any more funded related queries and find what can best benefit and support your family now.

Click here for BBC Coverage and further information

Click here for the Government’s current free childcare eligibility calculator

Click here for the Government’s breakdown of Childcare Support in 2023

Click here for LBC’s expanded breakdown of the Childcare Reform

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