PARENTS can apply for bumper free childcare from January 2, ministers have announced today.
Working mums and dads of two-year-olds are in line for 15 hours of support as part of a massive government expansion.
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The rollout kicks in from April but Education Secretary Gillian Keegan last night urged parents to sign up early.
She said: “Our fantastic childcare offer is going to start supporting eligible families in less than six months’ time, and I want to make sure that parents and providers are prepared.”
Parents are being clobbered by crippling childcare costs as more than 5,000 providers closed in the past year.
Poorer families are now spending more than a quarter of their wages on minders to look after their kids.
The Department for Education said the recommended time for parents register for the fresh support is between mid-January and the end of February.
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They can apply on the same government website parents of three and four-year-olds sign up for their existing 30 hours.
A mass recruitment drive of childminders is underway with new hires in line for start-up grants up to £1,200 to lure them to the sector.
Some £400million of previously announced funds is being given to councils to pour into childcare.
The childcare package announced at the Budget last March is being rolled out in stages starting from April with 15 hours for two-year-olds.
In September the 15 free hours will be extended to working parents of nine months to the start of school.
And from September 2025 all parents of nine-month-year-olds will get 30 hours free childcare until their kids are school age.
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Ms Keegan said: “From April next year, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare a week, making sure parents no longer have to choose between a career and a family, and doubling down on this government’s commitment to getting more people into work and growing the economy.
“I know the delivery of this transformation is no easy task, which is why I am pushing ahead with increased funding rates across the country and up to £1,200 for new childminders, knocking down barriers to recruiting and retaining the talented staff that provide such wonderful care for our children.”
