Potential savings from free childcare
Assumes parents claim and are eligible for the full 30 hours. Based on the national average local authority funding rates for 2025/26. Rate for 3-4 year olds is the combined average of additional and universal hours. Local authorities are required to pass on at least 96% of childcare funding to providers, but may allocate more. Funding passed to childcare providers may or may not equate to 30 full hours for a specific provider. Estimates are based on provisions in England and free hours differ across Scotland, Wales and Ireland
Source: AJ Bell
