Eligible military families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will soon be able to access the same Government-funded childcare hours as those in England.
The measure was announced during the Defence Secretary’s visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh on 19 March.
It means eligible working UK Armed Forces families in the devolved nations will be able to claim early years childcare costs for children from nine months old.
AFF has consistently highlighted the childcare funding disparity faced by Army serving personnel and their families across the UK.
The MOD said the changes would be rolled out from September 2026 to give time for families to explore suitable childcare.
Early years childcare costs have been highlighted to the government as a factor affecting Armed Forces retention and morale.
The MOD says it is working closely with the devolved governments and will provide further details for eligible families in the coming months.
Who is eligible?
- Regular and FTRS (FC) Service personnel.
- Families living in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
- Children aged nine months to two years (up to four in Northern Ireland).
- Both parents must be working in paid employment.
AFF will share information about how to claim as soon as we have it. Keep an eye on our social media platforms and our website for updates.
More information is available on our Early Years & Childcare page under UK Nursery Authority (UKNA).
UPDATED 24 MARCH 2026