Hull City Council is urging local parents and carers to take advantage of the free childcare provision available to them.
The government’s childcare offer for working parents has expanded over the past year and the council want to ensure parents and carers understand what their options are for their child’s government-funded early education.
The council’s Family Information Service (FIS) is also on hand to help. They provide free impartial information, advice, and support to parents and carers on childcare.
Nine months to four years
Working families can access up to 30 hours funded childcare per week. If the parent and their partner (if they have one), are both working a minimum of 16 hours per week each and each earn less than £100,000 per year, their child could be eligible the term after they turn nine months.
Two-year-olds
Some two-year-olds may be able to access a 15-hour funded childcare place the term after they turn two if the parent is in a low income or non-working household and/or in receipt of certain benefits.
All three and four-year-olds
All three and four-year-olds can access a childcare place the term after they turn three. The parent does not need to apply for this funding, they simply need to contact the childcare provider of their choice to secure a place.
Tax free childcare
Eligible working families can access tax-free childcare for children up to the age of 11 years old (16 years if their child has a disability). This provides a saving of 20% on their childcare bill for up to £2,000 per year per child. This includes all bills received from Ofsted-registered childcare, pre-schools, out of school provision (wraparound care), and holiday clubs.
Wraparound childcare
There are a number of primary schools and private childcare providers who offer wraparound care before and after school. To discuss available wraparound care, they can contact their local primary school or the FIS.
Breakfast clubs – early adopter schools from 1 April 2025 to July 2026
The government has introduced free breakfast clubs to enable primary school aged children to access school 30 minutes before the start of the school day.
Children will receive a free heathy and nutritious breakfast.
750 schools across England have been selected as Early Adopters to start the scheme from April 2025. The participating Hull schools are:
- Broadacre Primary School
- Clifton Primary School
- Endsleigh Holy Child VC Academy
- Ganton School
- Hall Road Academy
- Ings Primary School
- Kingswood Parks Primary School
- Longhill Primary School
- Maybury Primary School
- Neasden Primary School
- St Charles Voluntary Catholic Academy
- St Mary Queen of Martyrs VC Academy
- St Nicholas Primary School
- St Richard’s VC Academy
- St Vincent’s Voluntary Catholic Academy
- Thorpepark Academy.
FIS website
The FIS website provides all relevant information relating to the government funded early education and childcare offers. This also includes prompts on how to choose a childcare provider, details of the different types of providers, a directory of Ofsted-registered childcare within the city, information on early years careers, and how to register to become a childminder.
To access their support, visit their website, contact them by phone on 01482 318 318, or by email on fis@hullcc.gov.uk. You can also find updates from them on their Facebook page.
Early years careers
Now has never been a better time to join the growing early years sector. Those passionate about children’s development and early education and want to help shape their future, further information and case study videos can be found on the FIS website.
Councillor Linda Tock, the portfolio holder for Children’s Services at Hull City Council, said: “The recent childcare expansion has been extremely successful in Hull. We are delighted with the take up of funded childcare places and we encourage all parents and carers to find out what they are entitled to. Our Children and Family Services will continue to work tirelessly to ensure all families across the city can access their childcare entitlements.”
