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The free childcare hours available for under 5s, and how to apply for them.

Existing free childcare is expanding to include:

  • 2 year olds from working families from April 2024
  • Under 2s from working families from September 2024
Under 2s from working families

From September 2024 until September 2025, under 2s from working families will be offered free childcare in Bristol in two ways:

  • 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year
  • 12 hours a week for 47.5 weeks of the year

In September 2025 this will double to:

  • 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year
  • 24 hours a week for 47.5 weeks of the year

Check if you're eligible

To find out if you are eligible you need to:

When you can claim

You can claim from the term after your child is nine month's old.

When you claim by birth month
Birth month9th monthsEligible from
January October January
February November January
March December January
April January April
May February April
June March April
July April September
August May September
September June September
October July September
November August September
December September January
Two year olds from working families

From April 2024 until September 2025, 2 year olds from working families will be offered free childcare in Bristol in two ways:

  • 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year
  • 12 hours a week for 47.5 weeks of the year

In September 2025 this will double to:

  • 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year
  • 24 hours a week for 47.5 weeks of the year

Check if you're eligible

To find out if you are eligible you need to:

When you can claim

You can claim from the term after your child's second birthday, if their birthday is between:

  • 1 April and 31 August you can claim from 1 September
  • 1 September and 31 December you can claim from 1 January
  • 1 January and 31 March you can claim from 1 April

These hours cannot be used at the same time as free early education for 2 year olds.

Universal hours free childcare for three and four year olds

All three and four year olds in England are entitled to 570 hours free early education or childcare per year.

In Bristol this is offered in two ways:

  • 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year
  • 12 hours a week for 47.5 weeks of the year

You can claim from the term after your child's third birthday until they reach compulsory school age.

If your child's third birthday is between:

  • 1 April and 31 August you can claim from 1 September
  • 1 September and 31 December you can claim from 1 January
  • 1 January and 31 March you can claim from 1 April
Three and four year olds from working families

Since 2017, 3 and 4 year olds from working families have been offered free childcare in Bristol in two ways:

  • 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year
  • 12 hours a week for 47.5 weeks of the year

This can be used with their universal free hours, so doubles the time they can attend every week.

Check if you're eligible

To find out if you are eligible you need to:

Find an extended hours childcare provider

Search online for an extended hours childcare provider.

Find an extended hours free childcare provider

Hear what parent's think

Hear what parents from across the country have to say about free childcare hours.