Thousands of working parents of children aged nine-months and up are set to benefit from free childcare.
After the scheme was first rolled-out to working parents of children aged two earlier this year as part of the “largest expansion of childcare in history”, the Government has now extended this to children aged nine-months and up, ahead of expanding it even further to a total of 30 funded hours from next September.
This now means that working parents of children from the age of nine-months can now apply for 15-hours of free childcare per week.
The Government says the scale of challenge in delivering this scheme that it inherited from the former Government is a “substantial” one, but ministers are now “taking the action needed” to put this promise into action.
We're creating an early years sector built on strong foundations, where children can start school ready to learn🧸
Eligible working parents of children from 9-months-old will begin to access 15 hours of childcare this Monday.
“To deliver what parents have been promised requires an unprecedented rate of growth in childcare places and staff,” the Department for Education (DfE) conceded.
The expansion in Government-funded childcare hours is said to be just one step towards the Education Secretary’s vision of an early education and childcare system that “supports children to build on strong foundations” and “start school ready to learn”.
Speaking as the scheme extended to working parents of nine-month-olds this week, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson explained: “I’ve already said that early years is my number one priority, and that’s why we are delivering the childcare rollout I know will be such a help to hard-pressed parents.
Working parents of children aged nine-months and up can now apply for free childcare / Credit: Troy T | Ryan Fields (via Unsplash)
“This inherited plan comes with significant delivery challenges.
“I must warn that for some parents it will not be plain sailing, and while I am excited to see children starting nursery for the first time, or parents being able to increase their working hours, the work for the Government starts now.
“Over the next year, I will be working flat out with my team to ensure the next phase of the rollout is possible.”
In addition to the extension of funded childcare, the Government has also announced its intent to introduce new “wraparound” childcare places for primary school-aged children, both before and after the school day.
Find out if you’re eligible for free childcare on the gov.uk website here.
Featured Image – Tai’s Captures (via Unsplash)
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Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd September 2024 
