Paying for childcare

Free Early Years education and childcare

Funded childcare places for 2 year olds

Eligible families who have 2-year-old children and are in receipt of certain benefits can get 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks. The maximum each year is 570 hours.

You can get funded childcare from the term after your child's 2nd birthday, as long as you have got a valid eligibility code.

Funded childcare places for children aged 9 months to 3 years

Eligible working families in England with children aged 9 months to 3 years can receive 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks. The maximum each year is 570 hours.

Funded childcare places for 3 and 4 year olds

All families with children aged 3 and 4 can get 15 hours of funded childcare a weekfor 38 weeks. The maximum each year is 570 hours.

Your child will be eligible from the term after their third birthday.

Eligible working families in England with 3 and 4-year-old children can receive 30 hours of funded childcare a week.

Tax-free childcare for children aged 0–11 (0–16 if a child is disabled)

Families can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of their children to help with the cost of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).

Tax-Free Childcare Frequently Asked Questions.

Claim back childcare costs

Families may be able to claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs if they are eligible for Universal Credit.

Universal Credit Childcare Frequently Asked Questions.

Other help with childcare costs

Childcare Choices is the government website providing information about the different types of help with childcare costs. Families can use the childcare-calculator to find out what schemes they are eligible for and how much they can get towards the cost of their childcare.

Childcare Entitlements Frequently Asked Questions

Find out if you can get help with the cost of childcare