Help with childcare costs

Eligibility for childcare

Find out if you are eligible for help with childcare costs through the following:

• tax-free childcare
• 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds
• 30 hours free childcare
• Tax Credits
• Universal Credit
• Childcare vouchers
• help while you study

Tax-free childcare gives working families 20 per cent support towards qualifying childcare costs. You will get:

• £500 every three months for each child
• £1,000 every three months, if your child has a disability

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you can claim back up to 85 per cent of eligible childcare costs for children under 16.  

Visit the Childcare Choices website

Funded childcare for two-year-olds

You may be able to claim up to 15 hours childcare over 38 weeks for your two-year-old.

Funding would start from the term after your child's second birthday:

You must meet the criteria and submit an application to get an entitlement letter.

This will contain a unique ID code that your childcare provider can use to claim the funding.

Apply for two-year-old funding

To find providers who deliver two-year-old funded places, visit our Family Service Directory.

Funded childcare for three to four-year-olds

15 hours funded childcare

All 3 to 4-year-olds can get up to 15 hours funded childcare a week for 38 weeks a year during term time.

Some providers can offer fewer hours per week but for more weeks of the year. You can get up to 570 funded hours per year.

Your funded hours can only start from the term after your child’s third birthday.

No application is needed.

Your funded early education and childcare:

• must be with an approved childcare provider
• stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later)

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.

Funded childcare places are offered by: 

• all maintained nursery schools
• most day nurseries and pre-schools
• some childminders

To find a childcare provider in your area, visit our Family Service Directory.

30 hours funded childcare

Some 3 to 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours funded childcare a week.

You can start accessing your 30 hours from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday. Or the term after you have applied and been issued a code, whichever is latest.

Check if you are eligible and find out how to apply on GOV.uk.

If you are eligible for 30 hours funded childcare you must sign in to your childcare account to re-confirm every three months.

Changes to funded childcare

The upcoming expansion

 
Starting from April 2024, childcare support will expand in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children from 9 months up to the age of 5 years will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.
 
The changes are being introduced in phases:

• From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
• From September 2024, working parents of 9 month olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
• From September 2025, working parents of children from 9 months to 5 years will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.

You can use your hours per week for 38 weeks of the year (term time). You may be able to use your hours for up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.
 
Check with your childcare provider to find out how they deliver funded childcare in their setting. Please note that providers may ask for charges in addition to the funded childcare.
 
You can use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credits whilst claiming your 15 or 30 hours of childcare support. For eligibility criteria and further information please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk