The warning from thousands of parents who do not benefit from free childcare

Parents are being warned not to miss out on the free childcare they should be able to access. Mums and dads can now benefit from up to 30 hours of free childcare per week, providing significant financial relief.

However, parents are being warned that there are two key steps carers need to take to access this help, which could save them thousands of pounds a year.

Working parents with children aged nine months to four years living in England are eligible for this free childcare scheme. Under current regulations, some parents can get 15 hours, but by September 2025, all children under five will be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare a week.

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This benefit is worth an average of £6,900 a year, allowing parents to keep more of their income instead of spending it on childcare. Currently, the amount of free childcare depends on the child’s age, your income and whether you work.

If your child is between nine months and two years old, you can benefit from 15 hours, and children between three and four years can benefit from 30 hours of free care. Both you and your partner must work and earn the equivalent of the national minimum wage for 16 hours a week to qualify for this support.

To take advantage of the free hours, you need to open a government childcare account at gov.uk and request a free childcare code. This code must then be given to your chosen childcare provider so that they can claim funds for the free hours.

Importantly, you must request a code before the term your child is due to start care.

Every three months, parents are required to reconfirm their eligibility for free childcare. If this deadline is missed, the code will expire and full payment will be required.

For those who already have a fee-free childcare account, the code will be provided via the online portal upon re-confirmation.

However, if a reconfirmation is required before June 9th, the code will be posted by May 28th. It is usually necessary to apply for the code well in advance of the start of the next term.

David Samson, benefits expert at Turn2us, advised: “You need to confirm that your details are updated every three months or the code will expire. You need to log in to their childcare account to confirm the details.”

“You’ll get a reminder to do this, but it’s a good idea to put a note in your diary or calendar to remind yourself in case you miss the official reminder.”

As nurseries and pre-school places are often in high demand, it is recommended that you start looking for places well in advance of when you want your child to start.