Publish date: 8 August 2025
The Department for Education and Start for Life Early years are leading a campaign to help families and parents with childcare support
Help for parents to find out what they are eligible for
From September 2025 and in addition to the support already available, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of childcare per week, over 38 weeks of the year, starting from the term after their child turns nine months old. This is all part of the government’s Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life by making high quality early years education and childcare more affordable and accessible for families.
They recommend encouraging all parents to find out what they might be eligible for and apply ahead of the 31 August deadline (to start using their hours from 1 September) by visiting: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If parents are already using 15 hours childcare for working families
Parents don’t need to reapply for a new code. They simply continue to reconfirm their details every three months on their GOV.UK account and their existing code will update automatically to enable them to take up 30 hours from September.
If they are already using their 15 hours of childcare and want to increase their hours from September, they need to speak to their provider directly, as places may be limited.
If they are struggling to find a place, contact your local authority to find out what support and options are available.
The two (to two and a half) year check up
The Government has set out an ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. This health and development review is one of the main ways we can identify children that need support before they start school. A letter was sent on 17 June to all Directors of Public Health in England about increasing the uptake and quality of the review.
If parents or carers need more information, they can can speak to their health visitor.
You can find out more about the two year review in a guide that has been produced by our Health Visitors in Sefton