Implement universal 15-hours free childcare

policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/age/max_age.yaml

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+description: Maximum age for universal free childcare eligibility (3 and 4 year olds)
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Maximum age for universal free childcare
+  reference:
+    - title: Childcare and early education
+      href: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-3-to-4-year-olds?step-by-step-nav=f237ec8e-e82c-4ffa-8fba-2a88a739783b
+    - title: Parliamentary Research Briefing - Childcare
+      href: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8054/CBP-8054.pdf.#:~:text=All%20three%20and%20four%2Dyear%2Dolds%20in%20England%20are%20eligible,and%20applies%20irrespective%20of%20income.
+values:
+  2015-01-01: 5

policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/age/min_age.yaml

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+description: Minimum age for universal free childcare eligibility (3 and 4 year olds)
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Minimum age for universal free childcare
+  reference:
+    - title: Childcare and early education
+      href: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-3-to-4-year-olds?step-by-step-nav=f237ec8e-e82c-4ffa-8fba-2a88a739783b
+    - title: Parliamentary Research Briefing - Childcare
+      href: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8054/CBP-8054.pdf.#:~:text=All%20three%20and%20four%2Dyear%2Dolds%20in%20England%20are%20eligible,and%20applies%20irrespective%20of%20income.
+values:
+  2015-01-01: 3

policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/hours_per_year_universal_free_childcare.yaml

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+description: Number of universal free childcare hours provided per year for 3-4 year olds
+metadata:
+  unit: hour
+  period: year
+  label: Annual universal free childcare hours
+  reference:
+    - title: Childcare and early education
+      href: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-3-to-4-year-olds?step-by-step-nav=f237ec8e-e82c-4ffa-8fba-2a88a739783b
+    - title: Parliamentary Research Briefing - Childcare
+      href: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8054/CBP-8054.pdf.#:~:text=All%20three%20and%20four%2Dyear%2Dolds%20in%20England%20are%20eligible,and%20applies%20irrespective%20of%20income.
+values:
+  2015-01-01: 570

policyengine_uk/tests/policy/baseline/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/universal_free_childcare_eligibility.yaml

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+- name: Eligible 3
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    age: 3
+    is_child: true
+  output:
+    universal_free_childcare_eligibility: true
+
+
+- name: Eligible 4
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    age: 4
+    is_child: true
+  output:
+    universal_free_childcare_eligibility: true
+
+
+- name: non Eligible 5
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    age: 5
+    is_child: true
+  output:
+    universal_free_childcare_eligibility: false
+
+
+- name: non Eligible 3
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    age: 3
+    is_child: false
+  output:
+    universal_free_childcare_eligibility: false

policyengine_uk/tests/policy/baseline/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/universal_free_childcare_hours.yaml

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+- name: Eligible child gets full hours
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    universal_free_childcare_eligibility: true
+  output:
+    universal_free_childcare_hours: 570
+
+- name: Non eligible child 
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    universal_free_childcare_eligibility: false
+  output:
+    universal_free_childcare_hours: 0

policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/universal_free_childcare_eligibility.py

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+from policyengine_uk.model_api import *
+
+
+class universal_free_childcare_eligibility(Variable):
+    value_type = bool
+    entity = BenUnit
+    label = "Universal free childcare eligibility"
+    documentation = "Whether the benefit unit has any children eligible for universal free childcare (all 3-4 year olds)"
+    definition_period = YEAR
+
+    def formula(benunit, period, parameters):
+        """
+        Calculate eligibility for universal free childcare.
+        All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible, regardless of parent's circumstances.
+
+        Args:
+            benunit: The benefit unit
+            period: The time period
+            parameters: Policy parameters
+
+        Returns:
+            bool: Whether the benefit unit has any eligible children
+        """
+        # Get parameters
+        p = parameters(
+            period
+        ).gov.dwp.childcare_subsidies.universal_free_childcare.age
+
+        # Get ages of all members in the benefit unit
+        age = benunit.members("age", period)
+
+        # Check if they are children
+        is_child = benunit.members("is_child", period)
+
+        # Check if age is within eligible range using parameters
+        is_eligible_age = (age >= p.min_age) & (age < p.max_age)
+
+        # Child must be within age range and officially counted as a child
+        has_eligible_child = benunit.any(is_child & is_eligible_age)
+
+        return has_eligible_child.astype(bool)

policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/childcare_subsidies/universal_free_childcare/universal_free_childcare_hours.py

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+from policyengine_uk.model_api import *
+
+
+class universal_free_childcare_hours(Variable):
+    value_type = float
+    entity = BenUnit
+    label = "Universal free childcare hours per year"
+    documentation = (
+        "Number of free childcare hours per year the benefit unit is entitled to "
+        "under the universal offer for 3-4 year olds"
+    )
+    definition_period = YEAR
+    unit = "hour"
+
+    def formula(benunit, period, parameters):
+        """
+        Calculate number of free hours the benefit unit is entitled to.
+
+        Args:
+            benunit: The benefit unit
+            period: The time period
+            parameters: Policy parameters
+
+        Returns:
+            float: Number of free childcare hours per year
+        """
+        # Get eligibility status
+        is_eligible = benunit("universal_free_childcare_eligibility", period)
+
+        # Use hours directly from parameters file
+        hours = parameters(
+            period
+        ).gov.dwp.childcare_subsidies.universal_free_childcare.hours_per_year_universal_free_childcare
+
+        # Return hours if eligible, 0 if not
+        return where(is_eligible, hours, 0)