Help with your childcare costs
Childcare can be expensive but there is help available towards the costs of childcare. This guide covers the various support options that may be available to you.
Funded early education and childcare
You might be able to get some funded hours of early education and childcare. What you get depends on how old your child is, where you live, and your family circumstances.
You can only access this kind of support with approved childcare: this means a registered childminder, play scheme, nursery, or club, a nursery class in a school, or a home care worker working for a registered agency.
In England, Scotland and Wales you will usually become eligible in the term after your child’s birthday. For example, if your child turns three on 13 October, you will be able to get funded childcare hours from January. In Northern Ireland, you will be eligible the year before your child enters Primary One.
England
Two-year-olds
You can get some funded childcare for a two-year-old if you receive certain benefits, if your child has a disability, or if they have been looked after by the local authority.
You can find out whether you are eligible here. If you are eligible, you can get 15 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks a year (570 hours in total).
Three- and four-year-olds
All three- and four-year-olds can get 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks a year (570 hours in total) until they start Reception year at school.
Contact your local authority or speak directly to your childcare provider to find out more.
You can find your local authority’s contact information by using our Family Information Services finder.
From nine months
You might be able to get 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks a year (570 hours in total) if you are in work. For three- and four-year-olds, this is in addition to the 15 hours given to all children, giving you a total of 30 hours a week for 38 weeks a year (1140 hours in total).
To be eligible for this, you must be a single parent in work, or part of a couple where both parents are in work, and:
- You, or you and your partner, must earn at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage (if you are aged 20 or under) or the National Living Wage (if you are aged 21 or over)
- Neither of you must earn more than £100,000 per year
If you do not meet the earnings criteria, you may still be eligible if:
- You are in a couple and your partner earns enough, but you do not because you are a carer, you are ill or disabled, or you are on parental leave, annual leave or sick leave.
- You are self-employed and you started your business in the past 12 months.
Your eligibility may be affected by your immigration status if it means that you do not have access to public funds.
You can choose the provider where you want to use your free childcare, and you may be able to ‘stretch’ your childcare hours through the year, for example to get 11.4 hours per week for 50 weeks a year. You can split your funded childcare between different providers, and you may be able to pay your provider for extra hours of childcare beyond the funded entitlements.
Northern Ireland
You can get funded preschool education in a nursery school, primary school with nursery class, or from some private and voluntary providers. This is available the year before your child enters Primary One. You can find out how to apply for funded preschool education here.
Scotland
Two-year-olds
You can get funded childcare for a two-year-old if you receive certain benefits, or if your child has been looked after by the local authority. You can find out if you are eligible for free childcare for two-year-olds here. If you are eligible, you can get 1,140 hours of funded childcare a year.
Three- to five-year-olds
All three- to five-year-olds can get 1,140 hours of funded childcare (22 hours a week if used all year, or 30 hours a week if used only during school term time). Contact your local authority to find out more.
Wales
Two-year-olds
If you live in a Flying Start area, or your area is part of the phased expansion to the Flying Start programme, you can get 2.5 hours of free childcare a day for 5 days a week, 39 weeks a year when your child turns two. To find out whether you are eligible, contact your local authority.
Three- and four -year-olds
All three- and four-year-olds can get a minimum of 10 hours of funded, part-time Foundation Phase education in a school, or funded nursery. Some local authorities offer more than this. To find out more, contact your local authority.
You can get up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week for up to 48 weeks a year if:
- You live in Wales
- You, or you and your partner, earn at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage (if you are aged 20 or under) or the National Living Wage (if you are aged 21 or over)
- Neither you or your partner earn more than £100,000 per year
- You are enrolled on either an undergraduate, postgraduate or further education course that is at least 10 weeks in length
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is paid to help parents in work with the cost of childcare across the UK. The government will add £2 for every £8 you pay for childcare, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 per year if your child is disabled). You can only use it for approved childcare. This means a registered childminder, play scheme, nursery, or club, a registered school, or a home care worker working for a registered agency.
You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare if:
- Your child is aged under 12, or under 17 if they have a disability
- You are a single parent and you are earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at the minimum wage (if you are under 25) or the Living Wage (if you are over 25)
- You are part of a couple and you are both earning this amount, or one of you is earning and the other is unable to work due to illness, disability, or caring responsibilities
- You (and your partner if you have one) are earning less than £100,000 per year
- You are self-employed and you started your business in the past 12 months
Your eligibility may be affected by your immigration status if it means that you do not have access to public funds.
You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare here.
You can’t receive Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit at the same time. You can use the government’s Childcare Calculator to find out which option is better for you: this will depend on your family circumstances.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is paid to people who are on a low income, out of work or who cannot work. This includes earnings from employment and earnings if you are self-employed. If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay up to 85% of your costs. This is usually paid in arrears (you will have to pay for the childcare costs upfront and then claim them back from Universal Credit), but in some circustances costs will be paid upfront, such as when you move into paid work or increase your hours. Find out more about the childcare element of Universal Credit here.
You must use approved childcare to access the childcare element of Universal Credit. This means a registered childminder, play scheme, nursery, or club, a registered school, or a home care worker working for a registered agency.
If you are receiving Universal Credit, it’s important to report changes to your circumstances so you continue to receive the right amount.