Help with childcare costs
Depending on how old your child is, you may be able to access between 15 and 30 hours government funded childcare. The help you can get also depends on whether you are working or receiving certain benefits.
15 and 30 hours childcare support
Below you can find details of the free childcare schemes. Each scheme has different eligibility rules so it’s important to check which is is right for you.
30 hours for eligible children aged 9 months to 4-years-old
15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds
15 hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds
30 hours childcare for children in foster care
Help paying for childcare
In addition to the free childcare schemes, other options could be available to parents to help with the cost of childcare:
- Universal Credit childcare
- tax-free childcare
- study support
Visit the Best Start in Life website and use their childcare support checker to see what is available to you.