In the Spring budget 2023 the Chancellor set out large scale reforms aiming at increasing availability of childcare for working parents.
The current 30 hour offer for children aged 3 and 4 years old remains unchanged but the offer will be extended to children aged 2 years from April 2024 and then children aged from 9mths in September 2024.
These new cohorts will initially be eligible for 15 hours a week for 38 weeks a year until September 2025 when 30 hours will apply to these eligible children.
On this page you will find information and resources which will support your setting to deliver 30 hours funded childcare.
Guidance
- Early education and childcare statutory guidance
- Early years entitlements: operational guidance
- Help paying for childcare: 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds
- Check you're eligible for free childcare if you're working
Resources
Information to support providers to deliver the offer
- Early years 2 year expansion childcare programme introduction (November 2023)
- Early years disability access fund form (word) February 2024
- Childcare Choices stakeholder communication toolkit January - April 2024
Business planning/ partnership working guidance
In Ealing, we have run business support workshops and briefings for schools, PVIs and childminders and during that process have developed a range of documents and tools providers can use to assist in developing their business plan for the 30hr extended entitlement.
Developing your business plan will assist in making an informed decision regarding the level of engagement and delivery of the programme.
Business review and planning
- School business plan guidance
- School business plan template
- PVI setting ten steps workbook (Childcare Works)
- PVI business plan guidance (word)
- Nursery business plan template (word) (Family and Childcare Trust)
- Early years business sustainability (GOV.UK) Advice, examples and resources.
Business planning and partnership working
Demand and sufficiency
Financial planning
- Guide to using the financial planning workbook
- Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Provider eligibility check flowchart May 2017
Information to support parents' understanding of the offer
- Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Help with your childcare costs | Family and Childcare Trust
- 30hr eligibility checker tool (Ealing Families Directory)
- Sign in to your childcare account - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
- Childcare Choices stakeholder communication toolkit January - April 2024
- Childcare funding poster double-sided February 2024