Families in Bradford are being urged to ensure they don’t miss out on 15 hours of Government-funded childcare support.

From April, working parents can get help with their childcare costs, starting with 15 hours of childcare support for two-year-olds.

The new offer is an extension of the existing working families entitlement, which already sees families of three and four-year-olds receive 30 hours of childcare support.

Parents and carers with a child aged two can apply for the new working families entitlement, to begin the term after their child turns two.

Families have until March 31 to apply for their code, to begin from April 1.

If your child will be aged two after March 31, then you can apply for an eligibility code from June 2024, to start accessing the funded hours from September 1.

The 15 hours can be accessed at all approved two-year-old providers, including day nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, and schools.

This is the first phase of a roll-out of Government-expanded childcare support.

Bradford families are also being urged to double-check what help they can receive, as they may also be able to access existing wider help towards childcare costs.

How to check what you may be entitled to

Families can check their eligibility and register for the new working families entitlement online, visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Families who are already accessing childcare for their two-year-old, should simply speak to their provider about how they can access the funded hours with them.

What you need to know

• From April 2024, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.

• From September 2024, 15 hours of childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of nine months to three-year-olds.

• From September 2025, eligible working parents with a child from nine-months-old up to school age will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment, and skills, said: “The expansion of childcare support really is going to make a significant difference to the lives of working families and their young children.”