Government looking into offering free childcare from 9 months for children of working parents

The Government is looking into the possibility of offering free childcare for children over nine months.

This follows the UK Government’s announcement in its latest budget that up to 30 hours of childcare will be offered each week for children aged nine months and over, provided their parents are employed.

This will see a staggered introduction, with the full benefit set to kick in from September 2025.

GBC asked No.6 whether Gibraltar plans to offer the same to parents locally. In answer, the press office told us ‘the matter is being costed for consideration’.

Under the new UK measures, eligible two year olds will get 15 hours free childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year, from next April.

As from September 2024, children between nine months and two years would also qualify.

The full roll out for all eligible under-5s will take effect from September the year after.

As present in the UK, thirty hours of childcare or early education is offered weekly to working parents of three and four year olds.

Currently, children aged 3 to 4 here are offered 15 hours a week at a Government nursery, in the year before they start school.

Our reporter Katy Docker was in town this morning to find out what you think.