Parent Poll Wave 14: 2024 Childcare Entitlement Expansion and Childcare Use

Expansion of childcare entitlements 2024 – awareness

Awareness of the existing and upcoming funded childcare entitlements for working parents varies. These changes, implemented in April and September 2024, would enable parents of children aged 9 months to two years to receive 15 hours of funded childcare per week¹.

At the time of the survey taking place, around two-thirds (63%) of parents with children aged 0-2 were aware of the new childcare entitlements for children aged 2 effective from April 2024. Just over half of parents of children aged 0-2 (54%) were aware of the 15hrs of funded childcare entitlement for children aged 9 months to 24 months from September 2024. Around two in five (42%) parents were aware of the announcement about 30hrs of funded childcare for children aged 9 months up to 36 months by September 2025.

With regard to working status, unsurprisingly awareness of the changes to childcare entitlements effective in September 2024 was higher among full-time (56%) and part-time workers (61%) when compared with the unemployed (31%). Similarly, awareness of the announcement about 30hrs of funded childcare by September 2025 (for children aged 9months to 3 years) was higher among the employed versus unemployed (44% full-time workers, 46% part-time workers, and 31% not working).

Parents of children aged 0-2 living in the least deprived areas had greater awareness of the April 2024 childcare entitlements (73%) compared to parents living in the most deprived areas, where awareness was at 55%. This trend of higher awareness among parents living in the areas of lower relative deprivation also held true for the September 2024 funded childcare entitlements and the announcement of 30 hours of funded childcare by September 2025.

April 2024 rollout

Nearly all (94%) parents of children aged 2 in April 2024 who provided their code to a childcare provider to validate in order to access the new childcare entitlement in effect from April 2024 were able to access this support for their child. The majority (79%) of those parents found the application process straightforward and easy to navigate. Around a third (31%) of parents was satisfied with the number of providers in their area accepting the scheme, while a fifth (21%) thought the communication from the scheme administrators was clear, timely, and helpful.

September 2024 rollout

More than three quarters (78%) of parents with children qualifying for the upcoming in September 2024 childcare entitlements who were aware of the planned expansion, thought they would be eligible to access this support for their child. The majority (84%) of eligible parents planned to take up the new childcare entitlement for their child in September 2024, while around a tenth (9%) said no, and 7% were unsure. The majority (86%) would seek to secure a place at nursery or pre-school, whereas around a fifth would also consider a place with a childminder (22%).

Among parents who intended to take up the new childcare support for their child in September 2024, the middle of the week (Wednesday-Thursday) was the most popular planned use of the new childcare entitlements (64%) followed by Tuesday (60%), with Mondays (54%) and Fridays (53%) least popular. Regarding time of day, a full day was the most popular planned use of the new childcare entitlements (61%) followed by a mixture of full and half days (19%), and mornings only (12%).  If parents’ preferred days and/or times are not available, nearly three-quarters (73%) said they would be able to consider alternative days and times for their child from the same provider (18% said they would not, and 8% did not know).

All qualifying parents who were planning to take up the new childcare entitlement for their child in September 2024 were asked whether, in the absence of the new childcare entitlement, they would be planning to use formal childcare for their child. In the absence of the new childcare entitlement, the majority (83%) of parents would still be planning to use formal childcare for their child – more than half (57%) would be planning to use the same amount, and around a quarter (26%) would be planning to use fewer hours.

For parents aware of the 15 hours of funded childcare entitlements starting in September 2024, the primary barriers to uptake were: lack of flexibility in childcare options (18%), inability to cover additional costs (15%), uncertainty about eligibility (13%), lack of clarity on the application process (13%), and difficulty securing a childcare place (12%). Caution is advised when interpreting findings due to the small individual sample sizes (n=182).

Childcare use

Almost three quarters of parents of children aged 0-4 (72%) reported using formal childcare providers, and around half (49%) were using informal childcare. The most frequently used formal childcare was a nursery or pre-school, with more than half (55%) of parents using these settings, and around 1 in 10 using a childminder.

Among parents of children aged 0-4 using formal childcare at the time of interview, two thirds (66%) would have used additional hours of formal childcare if these hours were available. Of parents with children aged 2-4 who were receiving funded hours of childcare, more than half (59%) typically used their child's childcare entitlements during term-time only, while 40% used the entitlements throughout the whole year, including school holidays. In addition, nearly half of parents (46%) of 2-4 year olds receiving free childcare reported no restrictions on when they could use their childcare entitlements. However, around a third (31%) reported restrictions on the days of the week, and around a fifth (19%) experienced limitations on the times of day they could access funded childcare.

At the time of interview, almost three quarters (72%) of parents with 2-4 year olds received funded hours of childcare. Of those parents, around three quarters (72%) reported that their child received all of their funded hours under the 15 hours scheme. Around a fifth (18%) of parents reported their child was not receiving any childcare, whereas 2 in 5 (40%) used both formal and informal childcare. Regarding informal provision, around a third (34%) of parents relied on grandparents assisting with childcare, and this was the most frequently used form of support.

Most children (59%) who attend breakfast clubs do so at their school. While around a fifth (18%) of parents confirmed their child's breakfast club is on school grounds, they didn't know who managed it. Almost half (47%) of parents of 5–14-year-olds whose children did not attend a breakfast club stated they would be likely to use one if it was offered nearby and offered services from 8am. Regarding after-school clubs, about two thirds (63%) of children attending do so on school premises. A quarter (25%) of parents reported their child attended a privately run afterschool club at the school, and another 24% said the club was on school grounds, but they were unsure who ran it.  Similar to breakfast clubs, around half (47%) of parents of 5–14-year-olds whose children did not attend an afterschool club would likely use one if it was local and available until 6pm.

The most common reasons for using formal childcare among all parents, at the time of data collection, included the surveyed parent being at work (54%), their partner being at work (33%), because children were eligible to receive funded childcare (36%), and so that children could interact with other children (27%). Compared with parents of children aged 5-11, parents with children aged 0-4 were more inclined to use formal childcare because their child(ren) were eligible for funded childcare (45% versus 20%), wanted their child(ren) to mix with others (33% versus 16%), and wanted their child(ren) to begin or continue with their education (21% versus 15%).

In contrast, parents opting out of formal childcare indicated that this was mainly because they did not need it as they were not working (21%) or had never had to do so (20%).  Affordability also played a role, with 15% of parents citing the high cost of childcare as the reason for not using formal childcare. Parents also found alternative solutions such as: informal childcare arrangements (15%), managing work and childcare simultaneously from home (10%), other family members providing care (9%). Flexible work arrangements, such as adjusted schedules (10%) and parental leave (10%), also contributed to parents' decisions to forgo formal childcare.

When asked about planned use of formal childcare/school over the next 12 months, around three quarters (72%) of parents with children aged 0-14 planned to use or continue to use formal childcare. Around a third of parents anticipated using formal childcare only during term-time or expected to need it throughout the year, including holidays (35% and 34%, respectively). A fifth (20%) did not plan to use formal childcare at all.

Parents with children aged 0-4 were more likely to opt for term-time childcare only (41%) than parents with children aged 5-11 (32%) and 12-14 (17%), and year-round care (40% versus 25% and 21%). However, parents with children aged 5-14 were more likely to say they did not anticipate utilising any formal childcare compared to those with children 0-4 (41% versus 9%).

Cost of childcare

Around a third of all parents (34%) stated that the cost of provision was the main factor that has stopped them from accessing or using the childcare that they would like to use for their child. In that regard, more affordable childcare was stated as the most common change to provision that would help parents meet their childcare needs (34%) – 37% for parents of children aged 0-4.

Two thirds (66%) of parents who used formal childcare made use of available financial assistance (e.g. Tax-Free Childcare, Tax Credits, Childcare Vouchers, childcare element of Universal Credit) to cover their childcare costs.

Of those parents who would require formal childcare during term time over the 12 months following the survey, more than a third of parents planned to use their own family finances (39%), 36% would use Tax-Free Childcare, and around a fifth (21%) expected to use the childcare element of Universal Credit. Less than two-thirds (61%) of parents with children aged 0-4 said they would use the funded hours of childcare scheme. A fifth of parents (20%) stated that their childcare provider does not accept TFC payments.

Around a quarter (27%) of parents with children who attended formal childcare said they 'often' had to pay for extras such as meals, consumables, outings, and special lessons or activities for the main provider, while around third (34%) said they 'sometimes' did. Just over a fifth (22%) reported they did not incur additional charges. Among parents whose main formal childcare provider required them to pay extra charges, equal proportions (46%) said these as either compulsory or voluntary. More than half (58%) of parents found paying for added charges easy, while around a fifth (21%), difficult. Of those who found it difficult, the majority (83%) still managed to make the payments.

Barriers to accessing or using formal childcare.

Two in five (40%) of parents with children aged 0-4 agreed they had problems finding formal childcare for their child that is flexible enough to fit their needs, compared to around a third who disagreed (31%). Since the start of September 2023, around a tenth (11%) of parents with children aged 0-4 or 5-14 have been unable to find childcare. Additionally, 12% reported that their provider reduced the number of available days or hours, and another 11% said their provider was offering less flexibility in scheduling.  Staff shortages have also impacted parents, with 8% reporting they had been asked to change their usual days or times due to this issue.  The same proportion of parents indicated they no longer had access to informal childcare from family and friends.

The cost of provision was the main factor preventing parents accessing or using the childcare that they would like to use for their child (55%). The availability of provision (51%) and opening hours of provision (48%) were also considered barriers to using childcare, as were safety considerations (47%), quality of childcare provision available (47%), and location of childcare provider (46%).

Of the parents who indicated the cost of provision was a barrier to accessing or using formal childcare, similar proportions were influenced by this a great deal and a fair amount (27% and 28%, respectively).

Technical note:

Interviews were conducted between 11th July and 8th August 2024. Data was weighted to match the population profile of parents of children aged 0-4 and 5-14 in England by region and social grade. Data between waves are not directly comparable due to changes made to the questionnaire and sample composition between survey waves.

Footnotes: 

1 - By September 2025, eligible working families with children aged between 9 months and 5 years old will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.