Find Out What Funding is Available to Help You With Childcare Costs Here
Help With Childcare Costs
Different Types of Nursery Funding
Free Government Funding
You may be able to get free funded nursery hours to use at our nursery. See below for information about what is available. These hours can be used on their own meaning you don’t pay a penny.
You can do more than just the free hours.
3 - 5 Year Old Funding
Government funding is available for all children age three to five, the term after their third birthday. This entitles each child to a free 570 hours of childcare a year, usually taken as 15 hours of childcare a week during term time, or 11 hours a week throughout the year.
These free hours can be used on its own or be claimed against any additional hours.
Just fill in a form at your chosen nursery to claim.
Free Childcare For Two Year Olds
As with 3-5 year olds, government funding is also available for two year olds, following the same rules, though not all two year olds will be eligible.
Learn more about this type of help by clicking the buttons below. Learn about the early years funding and the current rates paid to childcare providers.
30 Hours Funding
You may also be eligible for an additional free 15 hours a week for your child (1140 hours per year in total).
You need to apply for the 30 hours funding, using a government gateway account. Which you can apply for here:
This signs you up for a childcare account, which you can also use to apply for Tax-free childcare shown below.
You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:
- in work – or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
- each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week – this is £120 if you’re over 25
Once you have applied simply contact your chosen nursery and provide them with your code.
Tax Free Childcare
You can get £2 for every £8 you pay into your childcare account, from the government. This must be paid to an approved childcare provider.
You can get up £2000 a year per child to help with childcare costs.
Eligibility is the same as with 30 hours funding (see above) and you can get both at the same time.
Applying for this will stop childcare vouchers and Tax Credits. Use the childcare calculator to find out what option is best for you.
Apply here for Tax Free Childcare.
Universal Credit
You can get 85% of your childcare paid for, up to £646 per month for one child and up to £1108 per month for two or more children.
To be eligible you need to be working or have a job offer.
You can claim Universal Credit online
Childcare Help While You Study
There are three main types of support for students who require childcare:
- Learner Support – available for those over 20 and in further education. Contact your college directly for more information. They let you know how to claim and how much you will be able to get.
- Childcare Grant (Student Finance) – those eligible for student finance can get a grant on top of this to pay for childcare. Find out here How To Apply and How Much You Will Get
- Care to Learn – this scheme helps those under 20 and in education to fund childcare places. The government pay up to £175 (£160 outside London) directly to us to cover you childcare fees. If you are under 20, are a British Citizen and are the main carer for your child you can find out how to apply here.
Tax Credits - Working and Child
Tax credits – working tax and child tax credits, have mostly been replaced by universal credits. Though you can find out whether you are can still claim by clicking the links here: Working tax credit; Child tax credit.