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 childcare - for eligible working families in England with children aged 9 months to 4 years
15 hours childcare for all children aged 3 to 4 years
15 hours for 2-year-olds receiving support
30 hours free childcare for foster children
Help paying for childcare
In addition to the free early education there are other sources of help. You may also be eligible for help from government childcare schemes.
Tax-free childcare
Working parents can get up to £2,000 government support per child per year
Universal credit childcare
You may be able to claim up to 85% of your childcare costs
Childcare support while you study
Extra financial support for students
Childcare calculator
Visit the Best Start in Life website to use their childcare calculator to find out which scheme would benefit you the most and get an estimate of how much help you could get with your childcare costs.
Finding childcare
Finding the right childcare for your child is really important. You can find details about the different types of childcare by searching providers in our Childcare Directory.
If you cannot find what you are looking for or need some advice or support, please contact: Family Information Service.