Thousands more parents will soon be able to apply for free childcare after the government confirmed the application date for the second round of its expansion scheme. From May 12 eligible working parents of nine-month-old babies will be able to register for access to 15 hours of government-funded childcare a week. The offer will begin from September 2024. This is the second round of expansion for the funded childcare scheme, first announced last year – with eligible working parents of two-year-olds able to claim 15 hours a week of free childcare from next month. From September 2025, working pa…