The Department for Education (DoE) has warned parents against making a mistake over the next two weeks that could cost them nearly £2000 worth of free childcare.
All working parents will be entitled to 15 hours of free childcare from 1 April under plans announced by the government.
Currently, 30 hours of free childcare a week is offered only to working parents with children aged three to four and earning less than £100,000 a year.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised the expansion of childcare support in his 2023 spring Budget, saying: “they amount to the most significant improvements to childcare provision in a decade.”
However, the DoE has issued a clarification to The Independent for parents looking to benefit from the new support scheme.
The deadline to apply for free childcare beginning in April is 31 March. If you miss this deadline, you will have to wait until the next deadline of August 31 to apply.
This would also mean you would not start receiving your entitlement until 1 September, potentially missing out on five months of free childcare – worth an average of £1,980.
