Parents and carers have until Sunday, 31 August to secure government-funded childcare for this autumn.
This means all eligible working parents of children who turned nine months between April 1 and August 31 can now apply to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week, saving them up to £7,500 a year per child.
The changes follow the rollout of 15 funded hours for eligible children aged nine months plus last September.
Families with two-year-olds who receive additional forms of support can receive 15 hours of funded childcare, as can all parents and carers of children aged three to four years-old.
Cllr Charles Pugsley, lead member for children and families at Leicestershire County Council, said: “With the continued rise in living costs, the additional support with the funded childcare can make a real difference to parents and carers in Leicestershire.
“We know that attending childcare has real benefits, including enabling children to develop key skills, socialise and prepare for school through play.”
Eligible families can receive, during term time, 1,140 free hours per year of funded childcare.
Check eligibility, apply for the scheme or reconfirm a childcare funding code
Find a local childminder, nursery, pre-school or other early years provider in Leicestershire
- Childcare funding codes need to be reconfirmed every three months