New guidance on childcare support

The first of April 2024 marked the first day that many parents of children who turned two before 31 March 2024 could benefit from 15 hours of free childcare.

From September 2024, 15 hours childcare will be available to eligible working parents in England with children aged between nine-23 months. This will expand furthermore to 30 free hours for that age group from September 2025.

In 2023, Reed in Partnership worked with at least 5,600 jobseekers to support them to overcome a childcare barrier to work. We know that the cost of childcare, as well as uncertainty about what support is available, can be a significant barrier to starting work for many individuals.

We have produced a guide for services and professionals working with parents to help them access the financial assistance that is available to them. Our report covers useful guidance and resources around:

• Talking about childcare to the people you are supporting
• How to find the right childcare, including for children with SEN and disabled children
• The available funding options for childcare and how to access them

Our guide is available here. Please feel free to share it with organisations or individuals in your network to help them support people with childcare needs.