Working parents of three and four year olds have just a few days left to apply for free childcare to start in September.

All families with children aged three and four are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year – a total of 570 hours per year.

Working parents of three and four years can receive a further 15 hours of free childcare, bringing the total up to 30 hours a week.

To be eligible for funding, parents must expect to earn at least £152 per week – equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage.

You cannot receive funding for 30 hours of childcare if you or your partner individually earn more than £100,000.

The offer is available for children the term after their third birthday – either September 1, January 1 or April 1.

The childcare offer is available at participating schools, nurseries, childminders, after school clubs, sessional providers and children’s centres.

The deadline for applying for the full 30 hours of free childcare – which equates to 1,140 hours per year – in time for the new academic year is Wednesday, August 31.

You can check your eligibility and apply for funding here.

Picture credit – Engin Akyurt from Pixabay