Please see update from the DfE below:
We previously communicated about the recent rule change which means that any parent returning to work from parental leave* before 30 September can apply now to take up their entitlement from September.
We want to highlight that the rule change also applies to parents taking up new work, but the advice on how to apply is different. Parents who need a childcare code and are starting a new job before 30 September, but whose start date is more than 31 days away, should call HMRC on 0300 123 4097.
After the 1st October, the below dates will apply:
|
Date of starting or returning work |
When you can apply from |
When you can access your entitlements from |
|
1 October to 31 January |
1 September to 31 December |
1 January |
|
1 February to 30 April |
1 January to 31 March |
1 April |
|
1 May to 30 September |
1 April to 31 August |
1 September |
*As before, if a parent is applying for childcare for an older child, who is not the reason for their parental leave, they can apply regardless of their return to work date.
See update from the Department for Education: Following the publication of the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Training Provider Guidance in April 2025, the Department for Education is pleased to announce the publication of the EYTDA Employer Guidance. Developed in collaboration with a sector-led Implementation group, this guidance aims to support employers in the early… Continue reading EY: Publication of Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (EYTDA) Employer Guidance: DfE
See the JCT newsletter for May which includes some suggestions for early years settings. The theme of the newsletter is vocabulary development. See JCT Newsletter May 2025
