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Over half a million children will benefit from 30 hours a week of funded childcare

Published: 1 Sep 2025

Babies playing in nursery

More than half a million children will now benefit from 30 hours of funded childcare a week, in a transformative step for families across the country.

The government’s policy is set to save working parents around £7,500 a year per child, while also helping nearly a third of parents increase their working hours. The move is expected to give children a stronger start in life, boost family finances, and support economic growth.

The economic benefits will be felt more widely, helping businesses keep skilled staff and widen the talent pool available to boost productivity and raise living standards – two critical parts of the government’s mission to grow the economy.

Polling shows that nine in ten families have secured one of their preferred childcare providers, with the expansion backed by an additional £2 billion in government funding to strengthen the sector.

Jane van Zyl, CEO of Working Families, said:

We welcome the expansion of funded childcare to 30 hours for children from nine months until they start school. 

“Advice on childcare costs is consistently in the top ten concerns on our free legal advice service, so we know that affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for helping parents to enter, stay and progress in work. 

“This is an important step forward, but it will be vital to ensure the right support is in place so that places are both available and sustainable for providers.

Victoria, from Gloucester, credits the 30 hours for her ability to balance being a single mother, and full-time headteacher: 

The impact of the government-funded hours on women is huge.

“I work five days a week without any family support. The government-funded hours are going to save me about £600 a month, but they also mean I can continue my career.

“Without them, I’d likely have to cut my working hours. This rollout is a significant step forward in women’s rights and workplace participation.

From today, parents can access an all-new Best Start in Life website that brings together trusted information, guidance, and support into one place where parents will be able to check what childcare help they’re eligible for, find their local family services, sign up for tailored weekly updates, and access advice from everything from pregnancy to preparing a child for school. 

Note – the next application deadline is 31 December 2025 for babies who turn 9 months between 1 September and 31 December. They will be eligible for the 30 funded hours of childcare on or after 1 January 2026.