You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
![Councillor Peter Gould](/image-library/peter-gould-ws-hr-1.xb6cb8b20.jpg?width=470&height=256&fit=crop&quality=75&format=webp)
You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
All 3 and 4-year-olds get 15 hours funded early education a week for 38 weeks a year.
Working families of 3 and 4-year-olds may get another 15 hours childcare a week. That's up to a total of 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.
Working families of 2-year-olds may get 15 hours childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year.
From September 2024, working families of 9-month-olds may get 15 hours of funded early education a week for 38 weeks a year.
From September 2025 this will expand to 30 hours.
A child turns 9 months and the working parent/carer gets a code between these dates: |
Up to 15/ 30 hours childcare starts from: |
1 January to 31 March |
1 April |
1 April to 31 August |
1 September |
1 September to 31 December |
1 January |
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).
You can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example:
Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare.
If you have problems applying or cannot access the internet, phone the government’s helpline on 0300 123 4097.
There is a guide about help with the cost of childcare (PDF, 1.5MB) by the Family and Childcare Trust.
Useful information about help paying for childcare from Money Saving Expert.