Can I get help with my childcare?

Government help with childcare costs for parents.. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support.

Funded Childcare

The government have announced their plans to extend the early years funding entitlements for working parents of children aged 9 months upwards. The expansion will be rolled out in phases, with the first set of new funding becoming available from April 2024.

Find out more about the expansion to early years funding from April 2024.

15 Hours Funded Childcare - For Eligible Children Aged 9 Months - 2 Years

For working families in England
15 hours* for eligible children from the term after they turn 9 months old

*38 weeks per year

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15 Hours Funded Childcare - For Eligible 2 Year Olds

For families in England, receiving some forms of support
With 2-year-old children
15 hours of funded childcare or early education a week* (*38 weeks per year)

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15 Hours Funded Childcare - Universal Entitlement for ALL 3 & 4 Year Olds

For all families in England
With 3 and 4-year-old children
15 hours of funded childcare or early education a week* (*38 weeks per year)

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30 Hours Funded Childcare - For Eligible 3 & 4 Year Olds

For working families in England
30 hours* for eligible 3 and 4 year olds (an extra 15 hours on top of the universal 15 hours)

*38 weeks per year

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Help Towards Childcare Costs

Tax-Free Childcare - (Age 0 - 11)

For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK
With children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled)
For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child

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Tax Credits - (Age 0 - 15)

For working families, in the UK
With children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled)
70% of childcare costs, up to a cap
If you cannot make a new claim for Tax Credits, you may be able to apply for Universal Credit instead.

If you are entitled to Working Tax Credit, and you and any partner are working at least 16 hours a week each, you can claim back up to 70% of your eligible childcare costs for children under 16 (or under 17 for disabled children). Depending on your income, you could get up to £122.50 a week for one child or £210 for two or more.

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Universal Credit - (Age 0 - 16)

For working families claiming Universal Credit, in England, Scotland and Wales
With children under 17
85% of eligible childcare costs, up to a cap

If you, and any partner, are working, or you’re due to start work, and you’re claiming Universal Credit, you can claim back up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs for children under 16. You could get up to £646 a month for one child, or £1,108 for two or more.

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Support While You Study

Weekly payments from Care to Learn if you’re at school or sixth-form college
Help through your college if you’re in further education
A weekly grant if you’re in full-time higher education

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If you're not sure which scheme would be right for you, you can check what help you can get with childcare costs using the Gov.uk childcare calculator. You can also use the childcare choices website to find out more about the schemes available.