PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(29 August 2025)

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

To support parents with the cost of childcare, the department offers:

• The universal 15 hours offer for all 3 and 4 year-old children, which is available to all families regardless of parental circumstances: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds?step-by-step-nav=f237ec8e-e82c-4ffa-8fba-2a88a739783b.
• 15 hours entitlement for families of 2 year-olds receiving additional forms of support: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds?step-by-step-nav=f237ec8e-e82c-4ffa-8fba-2a88a739783b. This is available for families where the parent or child receives certain types of extra support.
• The 30 hours entitlement for eligible working parents in England, from the term after their child turns nine months old to when they start school. With this, working parents could save £7,500 per year, transforming the costs of having children for families.

More information can be found at the new Best Start in Life parent hub: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/.