Get your childcare for 2025 sorted before Christmas

This advice forms part of the national government early years expansion programme, Childcare Choices, which launched its first phase in April this year.

From January 2025, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child who is at least 9 months old on 31 December 2024.

Step-by-step guide on how to apply and receive your code:

• Parents can check their eligibility criteria here: https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working 
   
• If parents have reviewed the eligibility criteria and wish to apply, they can do so on the gov.uk website. Applications can take up to 7 days to process.
   
• If approved, parents will receive a code to give to their childcare provider, along with their National Insurance number and their child’s date of birth.
   
• Providers will then process the code to provide your child a place.
   
• Parents must reconfirm that they are still eligibly for tax-free childcare every three months via their Childcare Account.
   
• Parents who are already claiming Tax-Free Childcare will be automatically issued a code in the post from HMRC
   
• Parents with two codes (one code in a letter from HMRC, and a second code via their Childcare Account) are assured that both codes will be valid.

Parents with questions about the childcare expansion, including eligibility criteria and what support is available to them, are advised to read the Childcare Choices Frequently Asked Questions Childcare entitlements frequently asked questions for parents | Childcare Choices 

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Notes to editors

The Childcare Choices website outlines information for parents/carers and providers about the upcoming changes to childcare costs.

This includes what support is available for different age groups of children, for working families and for families who currently receive additional government support.

You can access the website here https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ 

Information is also available on the Walsall Family Information Service website, which include Frequently Asked Questions sections:

Childcare Choices for parents
https://www.mywalsall.org/fis/Childcare-Choices-Parents/ 

Childcare Choices for providers
https://www.mywalsall.org/fis/Childcare-Choices-Providers/ 

Providers can also email EYandChildcareExpansion@walsall.gov.uk for any additional support.