Am I eligible?

15 hours of free childcare is available for all families in England. 

Where can I use it?

It’s available at participating:

• Full day care (e.g nurseries)
• Schools
• Childminders
• Sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
• Sure Start Children’s Centres
• After school clubs

From 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 3rd birthday.

What isn’t covered?

The 15 hours free childcare/early education offer is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream), additional hours or additional activities (such as trips). Providers may charge a fee for these additions. If you choose to pay for these it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider. However, you must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a 15 hours place, and must be offered alternative options.

Am I eligible?

15 hours of free childcare is available for all families in England. 

Where can I use it?

It’s available at participating:

• Full day care (e.g nurseries)
• Schools
• Childminders
• Sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
• Sure Start Children’s Centres
• After school clubs

From 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 3rd birthday.

What isn’t covered?

The 15 hours free childcare/early education offer is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream), additional hours or additional activities (such as trips). Providers may charge a fee for these additions. If you choose to pay for these it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider. However, you must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a 15 hours place, and must be offered alternative options.

Am I eligible?

You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £139 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage). 

If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you’re unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.

You can’t get 30 hours free childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.

When can my child start?

Your child can start in their childcare place the term after they turn 3 years old and have received a valid 30 hours code, whichever is later. Term start dates are 1^st September, 1^stJanuary and 1^st April.

To keep your 30 hours free childcare place you need to check your details are up to date every 3 months.

Where can I use it?

It’s available at participating:

• Full day care (e.g nurseries)
• Schools
• Childminders
• Sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
• Sure Start Children’s Centres
• After school clubs

Please view the step by step guide on how to use 30 hours free childcare. 

What isn’t covered? 

The 30 hours free childcare offer is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream), additional hours or additional activities (such as trips). Providers may charge a fee for these additions. If you choose to pay for these it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider. However, you must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a 30 hours place, and must be offered alternative options.

You can receive up to £2,000 per child per year – that’s up to £500 every three months. If you have a disabled child, you can receive up to £4,000 per child – that’s up to £1,000 every three months.

Am I eligible?

You, and any partner, must be over 16 and each expect to earn (on average) at least £139 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage). 

If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you’re unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible. 

You can’t get Tax-Free Childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.

How can I use it?

You can use Tax-Free Childcare all year round to spend on regulated childcare, such as:

• Childminders, nurseries and nannies
• Before and after-school clubs and holiday clubs

For example, if your childcare costs are £750 per month, you would pay £600 into your childcare account and the government would pay in £150. This would be an annual saving of £1,800 per child.

Please view the step by step guide on how to use Tax-Free Childcare.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as (where available):

• 15 hours free childcare
• 30 hours free childcare

You can’t use it with:

• Universal Credit
• Tax Credits
• Childcare Vouchers (closed to new entrants)

Tax credits are closed to new applications for the majority of people from 1 February 2019.

How the scheme works

If you are an existing tax credits customer 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.

You can use tax credits for childcare to help pay:

• Registered childminders, nurseries and nannies
• Registered after-school clubs and playschemes
• Registered schools
• Home care workers working for a registered home care agency

What’s happening to Tax credits?

Universal Credit is replacing a number of existing benefits, including tax credits. If you are already receiving tax credits, you don’t need to do anything now. 

If you cannot make a new claim for tax credits, you may be able to apply for Universal Credit instead.

You can’t claim tax credits at the same time as:

• Universal Credit
• Tax-Free Childcare 

Am I eligible?

You, and any partner, must be working, or you’re due to start work, and are claiming Universal Credit.

Whether you can claim will depend on your personal circumstances.

How can I benefit?

You can claim back up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs for children under 17. You could get up to £646 a month for one child, or £1,108 for two or more.

Use an independent benefits calculator to find out what you could get

You can use it to help pay:

• Registered childminders, nurseries, and nannies
• Registered after-school clubs and playschemes
• Registered schools
• Home careworkers working for a registered home care agency

Universal Credit is replacing a number of benefits, including tax credits.

If you are already receiving tax credits then you don’t need to do anything now.

You can’t claim Universal Credit at the same time as:

• Tax credits
• Tax-Free Childcare 

* The childcare cost element in Universal Credit is paid up to the end of August following the child’s 16th birthday.

Access more information about claiming childcare costs as part of Universal Credit.

You could get weekly payments through Care to Learn if you’re under 20 at the start of a publicly-funded course, such as a school or sixth form.

You can apply for Discretionary Learner Support to pay for childcare if you’re 19 or over and in further education, for example, if you’re studying for an NVQ, BTEC or PGCE.

You can apply for a Childcare Grant if you’re in full-time higher education to pay for childcare costs for children under 15 (or under 17 if they have special needs).