Childcare: Eligibility
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to review the eligibility rules for receiving 30 hours of free childcare.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.
We are delivering more support to working families than ever before with the rollout of the 30 hours government-funded childcare entitlement since September 2025.
To be eligible, each working parent in a household must expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum or Living Wage, and less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year.
Childcare support is made up of several different systems and has developed gradually over time, with add-ons and expansions made by subsequent governments. This can make it confusing for both parents and early years providers to understand and apply for the help available. We will continue improving the system so that all children, regardless of background, can benefit from high-quality early education and childcare, and parents are supported to work.
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