New GOV.UK AI tool launches to help parents check childcare funding in seconds

Parents and carers can now get instant answers about childcare funding and government support thanks to a new AI tool built into the free GOV.UK app.

Called GOV.UK Chat, the tool allows families to type questions in their own words and receive clear, official guidance in seconds. For busy mums juggling work, nursery runs and everything in between, it promises to cut through the confusion around funded hours, Child Benefit and parental leave.

The launch comes as new data shows more than 100,000 eligible families in England are not taking up the funded childcare hours they are entitled to, missing out on savings worth £8,000 a year on average.

Why this matters for families

Childcare costs remain one of the biggest pressures on family budgets. Since September 2025, eligible working families have been able to access 30 funded hours of childcare a week during term-time. That means a part-time 25-hour place is effectively free, saving up to £8,000 a year.

Despite this, research shows that more than half of parents who know about the funded hours are not currently using them, and a third have not applied at all.

Awareness is also lower among families in the most deprived areas, at 65% compared to 78% in the least deprived areas. Among parents of ethnic minority children, awareness stands at 57%, compared to 74% for parents of white children.

For families who are not eligible for funded hours, costs remain high, averaging £189 a week for a part-time nursery place for a child under two in England. Understanding exactly what support is available can make a significant difference to monthly outgoings.

What is GOV.UK Chat and how does it work?

GOV.UK Chat is an AI-powered tool within the GOV.UK app. Instead of searching through multiple web pages or waiting on hold for phone support, parents can type a question and receive an answer based on official government information, along with links to take the next step.

For example, a new parent could type: “I’ve just had a baby - how can the government help me?” The tool will pull together guidance on registering a birth, claiming Child Benefit, parental leave and local support services.

Other questions might include:

• “What free childcare am I entitled to?”
• “How do I get maternity pay?”
• “I’m going back to work in September after shared parental leave - what do I need to sort out?”

The chat also directs users to practical tools such as the childcare calculator, maternity pay calculator and benefits eligibility checker.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall described the tool as a potential turning point for families.

“This could be a gamechanger for busy parents and carers. They have told us how frustrating it can be trying to work out what support they’re entitled to, especially when time is already stretched.

“GOV.UK Chat makes that easier by giving clear, trusted answers in seconds, so parents can quickly see what help is available and get on with family life.

“It’s about making sure families can access the support they deserve without the stress.”

A time-saver for busy mums

For many millennial mums balancing careers and childcare, time is often the biggest barrier to navigating government websites.

Chiamaka Odimegwu, a parent of a three-year-old, shared her experience of using the tool.

“As a business owner and new mum, time is something I never have enough of. Before, I'd spend ages trawling through different websites trying to work out what support I was entitled to – and still wasn't sure I had the right answer.

“GOV.UK Chat gives me the information I need in seconds, and I can actually trust it because it comes straight from official government guidance.

“It’s already helped me look into childcare funding and business support, and as my baby gets older I know I'll be using it to find funded nursery hours too."

Helping families access early support

The government says the aim is to make access to childcare and other services simpler and more equal, particularly for families who may feel less confident navigating official systems.

Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey said:

"I hear far too often from parents how complicated they found it to work out what childcare support they're actually entitled to. That's not good enough, and changing it is one of my priorities.

"Our childcare expansion is already saving eligible families £8,000 a year on average - but only if they know they can claim it.

"GOV.UK Chat changes that. The answers parents need are now in their pocket, any time of day - so they can spend less time looking for support and more time on the things that matter most."

Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo's, also welcomed the move.

"When parents and carers need support, we know it can be challenging to navigate different systems trying to find out what is available to them from the government while juggling work and the demands of family life.

“At Barnardo’s, we know that access to early help can be life-changing for families, giving children the best possible start in life.

“We hope that this new tool will help parents and carers to access support when they need it more easily so that all children have the chance to thrive as adults.”

How to access GOV.UK Chat

GOV.UK Chat is available through the free GOV.UK app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Users need to sign in or create a GOV.UK One Login account to access the chat feature. Once set up, parents can search for services related to parenting, benefits, employment and health, all from their phone.

For families unsure what they are entitled to, it could be a simple first step towards unlocking valuable support, without adding another task to an already packed to-do list.